What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Polybutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder
Abrasive
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polybutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Synthetic Wax, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ozokerite, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Trihydroxystearin, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Limonene, Linalool, CI 45410, CI 42090, CI 77499
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Vegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Olive Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vegetable Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ozokerite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, CI 77891, CI 19140, CI 45380
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCaprylic/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 TriglycerideThough this ingredient might sound like a juicy fruit extract, it's actually the fat pressed from the mango seed kernel (or the pit).
In skincare, it behaves more like shea butter and cocoa butter than like a plant active.
The fatty acid makeup of mango seed butter makes it special; it's typically rich in stearic acid and oleic acid, with small amounts of palmitic and linoleic acid.
This combo helps it melt on skin, feel creamy, and leave behind a protective "seal" that slows down water loss.
It also contains a small amount of "extras" like tocopherols (vitamin E) and phytosterols, which are often used to support skin soothing.
Due to its fatty acid content (like oleic acid), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Mangifera Indica Seed ButterOzokerite is a naturally occuring mineral wax. In cosmetics, ozokerite is used as a texture enhancer.
Ceresin wax is derived from this ingredient.
The melting point of ozokerite is 58-100 C.
Ozokerite is found all over the world including Scotland, the US, and India.
Learn more about OzokeritePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateEuphorbia Cerifera Wax (aka candelilla wax) is a vegan stand-in for beeswax. It is a plant-derived wax that functions as an astringent, emulsion stabilizer, film-former, and skin conditioner.
On skin, it forms a protective barrier that helps lock in moisture while it enhances product stability, prevents separation, and helps color last longer in makeup.
This ingredient is generally safe for use in cosmetics with one nuance: some grades of candelilla wax can naturally contain benzyl alcohol at concentrations high enough to require declaration under EU labeling rules. This isn't a concern for most people but relevant for those with fragrance sensitivities.
Candelilla wax contains fatty acids (mainly C31) and wax esters that can be used by the Malassezia yeast, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
You might see Euphorbia Cerifera "Cera" instead of "wax". This is because some brands, databases, or labels use it interchangeably; they're the same ingredient.
Learn more about Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
