What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Dicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantTridecyl Trimellitate, Octyldodecanol, Dicalcium Phosphate, Synthetic Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisostearyl Malate, Synthetic Beeswax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, CI 77120, Titanium Dioxide, CI 15850, Mica, CI 19140, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 45410, CI 42090, CI 45380, CI 15985
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Bentonite
Gel FormingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Garcinia Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tribehenin
Emollient
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glyceryl Dioleate
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingDicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventLactic Acid
Buffering
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Silica
Abrasive
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Wax, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Synthetic Beeswax, Mica, Behenyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tribehenin, Triolein, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Dioleate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Dicalcium Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Propylene Carbonate, Lactic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Tin Oxide, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 15850
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideCi 15850 is the pigment color red. It is an azo dye and created synthetically.
Azo dyes need to be thoroughly purified before use. This allows them to be more stable and longer-lasting.
This ingredient is common in foundations, lipsticks, and blushes. This color is described as brown/orangey red.
It has many secondary names such as Red 6 and Red 7. According to a manufacturer, Red 6 usually contains aluminum.
Learn more about CI 15850Ci 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492This ingredient is a mineral salt of calcium and phosphate. It is mainly used as a mild abrasive and sometimes used to add opacity to a formula.
Diisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Hydrogenated Castor Oil (aka "castor wax") is what you get when castor oil is turned into a wax.
Its dominant fatty acid is ricinoleic acid, giving it both emollient and mild humectant properties.
According to EU CosIng, this ingredient helps soften skin, keep oil and water stay mixed, and thickens products.
Hydrogenated castor oil at 30% did not trigger a positive patch-test reaction and is well-tolerated.
Since this ingredient is based on an 18-carbon fatty acid, it falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia can feed on and may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Castor OilMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateThis ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSynthetic beeswax is created to be identical in structure to beeswax without involving bees, making it a go-to for vegan formulas.
It's mainly used an an emulsion stabilizer and thickener.
This ingredient (alongside other synthetic waxes) have been concluded to be safe in cosmetics under the present practices.
Reported usage goes up to 18% and it is non-sensitizing.
Just one caveat for fungal acne: This ingredient is made up of C16-32 fatty acids and fatty acid esters. Part of this overlaps with the C11-24 range that the Malassezia yeast can feed on, so it's not fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Synthetic BeeswaxSynthetic 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 WaxUndaria Pinnatifida Extract comes from a kelp native to the northern Pacific Ocean. It is more commonly known as "wakame".
This kelp contains fatty acids, sodium, calcium, iodine, thiamine, and niacin. Studies show a polysaccharide known as fucoidan exhibits strong antioxidant activities. Fucoidan can be found in the cell walls of many species of brown seaweed.
Wakame prefers cold and temperate oceans. It is used in Japanese and Korean cuisine (yummy!).
Learn more about Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
