What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone Silylate
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Aroma
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Menthol
Masking
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantTridecyl Trimellitate, Polyisobutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dimethicone Silylate, Microcrystalline Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Aroma, Ceramide NP, Menthol, CI 77492, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, CI 77491, CI 15850
Polybutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientSilica Silylate
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientParfum
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Milk Protein Extract
Honey Extract
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolybutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Silica Silylate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, CI 19140, CI 15985, Tocopheryl Acetate, Milk Protein Extract, Honey Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate is a plant-derived emulsifier and pigment-dispersing agent with a non-sticky skin feel.
It helps products glide on smoothly and prevents oil and water from separating in a formula, making it suitable for sunscreen and makeup formulations.
The EU inventory of cosmetics has no use restrictions on this ingredient and it is considered well-tolerated.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is derived from isostearic acid.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-2 TriisostearateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTridecyl Trimellitate is a synthetic ingredient with emollient and skin conditioning properties. It also acts as a texture enhancer and helps products spread easily without feeling greasy.
As an emollient, it forms a light layer on the skin that keeps moisture in and improves water resistance. This is why you'll often find this ingredient in eye creams and other rich treatments.
This ingredient is seen as the elegant alternative to mineral oil.
Learn more about Tridecyl Trimellitate
