What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Kaolin
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCeresin
Emulsion StabilisingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Tribehenin
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Kaolin, Mica, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Ceresin, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Silica, Ozokerite, Cera Microcristallina, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica Silylate, Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantIsostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Aroma
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
Emollient
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Saccharin
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Limonene
Perfuming
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantDiisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Synthetic Wax, Cera Microcristallina, Mica, Isostearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aroma, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Tribehenin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Saccharin, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Limonene, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Titanium Dioxide, CI 15850
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 ButterCera Microcristallina, aka microcrystalline wax, is a petroleum-derived wax that helps thicken texture and stabilize the oils in formulas.
It also has mild occlusive properties that creates a film on skin to slow down water loss.
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
This ingredient is refined to a cosmetic grade with high purity. It is chemically inert, stable, and doesn't clog pores (petroleum has a comedogenic rating of 0).
Malassezia feeds on fatty acids roughly in the C11-24 range and this ingredient contains none of those. Since there's no plausible food source for it here, this ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cera MicrocristallinaDiisostearyl 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.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneMica 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 MicaSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopheryl 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 AcetateTribehenin is the triglyceride of glycerin and behenic acid. It is an emollient that helps soften and condition skin.
Safety-wise, this is a well-vetted ingredient. Repeated-insult patch tests of 0.38% tribehenin did not trigger sensitization.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because behenic acid falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia yeasts can feed on.
Learn more about Tribehenin
