What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C13-15 Alkane
SolventPEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPolysorbate 85
Emulsifying
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Emollient
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C13-15 Alkane, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Synthetic Wax, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Polysorbate 85, Oryza Sativa Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trihydroxystearin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Water, Butylene Glycol, CI 77499
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate
Emollient
PEG-10 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
SurfactantCetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Wax, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Water, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Guaiazulene Sulfonate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglyceridePEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate is a synthetic, oil-loving helper ingredient that does two jobs:
This ingredient is made by joining three building blocks: PEG, Isostearic Acid and glycerin. The PEG gives it the oil-and-water blending power.
This ingredient has been found safe for use in cosmetics and broader PEG family testing shows minimal irritation/sensitization. The molecule's large size also means it isn't expected to penetrate skin to any meaningful degree.
Fungal acne note: This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe due to isostearic acid (C18). Isostearic acid falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can feed on.
Learn more about PEG-20 Glyceryl TriisostearateSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
