What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Abietate/Maleate
Skin ConditioningCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Nylon-6
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Malic Acid
Buffering
1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
CI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Paraffin, Glyceryl Abietate/Maleate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Dextrin Palmitate, Nylon-6, Water, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Malic Acid, 1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Butylene Glycol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methylparaben, CI 77266
Isododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Petrolatum
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Seed Oil
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Talc
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Methyl Trimethicone, Synthetic Wax, Dextrin Palmitate, Microcrystalline Wax, Beeswax, Paraffin, Isostearic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Petrolatum, Octyldodecyl Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Polyethylene, Tocopherol, Camellia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Panthenol, Alcohol, Water, Royal Jelly Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Talc, Mica, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Copernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxDextrin Palmitate is an oil-loving texture helper made by bonding palmitic acid onto Dextrin. It's main roles are to turn liquid oils into spreadable gels and prevent ingredients from separating.
It also lends a silky, non-greasy slip that makes products feel more elegant.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.5-5%, but can go up to 10% depending on how firm the gel is.
Because it's an ester built on a fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Dextrin PalmitateIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneMicrocrystalline Wax is derived from petroleum through a de-oiling process, then highly refined and purified before use in cosmetics.
In skincare formulations, it is used to improve texture and create a smooth, even consistency. It also helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating.
This ingredient is also known as olive oil. It has been used in skincare for centuries and science largely backs up its reputation as a nourishing emollient.
The main components of olive oil are oleic acid (55-83%), linoleic acid (3.5-20%), and palmitic acid (7-20%). Oleic acid promotes skin regeneration and helps regulate inflammatory responses.
Squalene is also naturally present in olive oil and exhibits moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The polyphenols in olive oil also show anti-aging promise; one clinical study found a measurable improvement in skin appearance after 30 days of topical serum use.
Just be aware that applying olive oil directly to skin can weaken the barrier and cause redness. One study with volunteers found even people without sensitive skin experienced a significant reduction in stratum corneum integrity and induced mild erythema.
It's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted formula (instead of putting it on skin directly from the bottle).
Because it has a 2-3 on the comedogenic scale, it is a moderate risk for acne-prone skin. However, the overall formulation of a product matters more than a few ingredients with comedogenic ratings.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because of the oleic and palmitic acid content. These fall within the C11-24 fatty acid range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize to grow.
Overall, olive oil is a well-studied and nourishing skincare ingredient.
Learn more about Olea Europaea Fruit OilParaffin is a solid wax that pulls its weight as an emollient, occlusive, and consistency-booster.
It softens skin and lays down a protective film to slow water loss and gives products a stable body and structure.
The cosmetic grade stuff is highly refined with a solid safety record. The CIR Expert Panel has repeatedly reaffirmed this ingredient to be safe in current practices of use and concentration.
The worry about carcinogenic compounds only applies to industrial grades, not the purified version used in skincare.
Despite its reputation, the highly reformed form is non-comedogenic and doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
The good news for fungal-acne prone folks: the Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids and lipids and paraffin doesn't contain any of these (so there's nothing for the yeast to metabolize). This ingredient is considered fungal acne safe.
Learn more about ParaffinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSynthetic 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 WaxWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
