What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Polysorbate 85
Emulsifying
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water
Masking
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Poly(Dipropyleneglycol Adipate)
Chromium Oxide Greens
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Illite
Abrasive
Montmorillonite
AbsorbentKaolin
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Triethylhexanoin, Synthetic Wax, Polysorbate 85, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Charcoal Powder, Poly(Dipropyleneglycol Adipate), Chromium Oxide Greens, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Illite, Montmorillonite, Kaolin, 1,2-Hexanediol
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 TriglycerideEthylhexyl 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 PalmitatePolysorbate 85 isn't fungal acne safe.
Synthetic 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 Wax
