What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Trioctyldodecyl Citrate
EmollientPolybutene
Silica
Abrasive
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Tribehenin
Emollient
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Titanium/Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
Abrasive
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
PEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Phytosteryl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Vanillin
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77400
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantDiisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyethylene, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Polybutene, Silica, Ozokerite, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Octyldodecanol, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ceramide Ng, Tribehenin, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Titanium/Titanium Dioxide, Alumina, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Linoleic Acid, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Phytosteryl Isostearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Vanillin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77163, CI 77400, CI 42090, CI 75470, CI 15850, CI 45380, CI 45410, CI 73360, CI 17200, CI 19140, CI 15985
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
C20-40 Alkyl Stearate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citral
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Cera Microcristallina, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetyl Palmitate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Myristyl Myristate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, C20-40 Alkyl Stearate, Panthenol, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Cera Alba, Water, Glycerin, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Parfum
Reviews
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 TriglycerideHydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic emollient. It forms a non-occlusive film on the skin's surface to provide a silky feel without being greasy.
In vivo studies in volunteers with atopic and dry skin showed no irritation or intolerance. The volunteers also saw a positive effect in dryness, scaling, and roughness after 28 days of use.
Concentrations up to 100% in guinea pig tests found it to be non-sensitizing and completely safe for use in cosmetics.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydeceneOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
This ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
