What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveKaolin
AbrasiveOleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventTribehenin
EmollientVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Glyceryl Rosinate
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantSr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
HumectantGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
AntioxidantEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
AstringentRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantButyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Kaolin, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Octyldodecanol, C9-12 Alkane, Tribehenin, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Glyceryl Rosinate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Water, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 15850
Undecane
EmollientTridecane
PerfumingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Silica
AbrasiveKaolin
AbrasiveCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
EmollientBalanites Roxburghii Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientVanillin
MaskingHectorite
AbsorbentCandelilla Cera
EmollientEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientGossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningBidens Pilosa Extract
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantAlumina
AbrasiveMagnesium Oxide
AbsorbentUndecane, Tridecane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Mica, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Silica, Kaolin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Balanites Roxburghii Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Vanillin, Hectorite, Candelilla Cera, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Tocopherol, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Alumina, Magnesium Oxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Kaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinSilica, 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 SilicaJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol