What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantMalic Acid
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCopernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingCastor Isostearate Succinate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
EmollientCrambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningIsostearic Acid
CleansingTin Oxide
AbrasiveCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingLecithin
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Mica, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Synthetic Beeswax, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Tocopherol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Isostearic Acid, Tin Oxide, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Alternatives
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 TriglycerideMica 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 MicaJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol