What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantRicinus Communis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Silica, Parfum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Mica, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Isopropyl Myristate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Palmitic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 15850, CI 73360, CI 19140
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Adipate/Caprate/Caprylate/Heptanoate
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTin Oxide
Abrasive
Propylene Carbonate
SolventTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Synthetic Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Microcrystalline Wax, Pentaerythrityl Adipate/Caprate/Caprylate/Heptanoate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isostearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tin Oxide, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, CI 15850, CI 19140
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCi 15850 is the pigment color red. It is an azo dye and created synthetically.
Azo dyes need to be thoroughly purified before use. This allows them to be more stable and longer-lasting.
This ingredient is common in foundations, lipsticks, and blushes. This color is described as brown/orangey red.
It has many secondary names such as Red 6 and Red 7. According to a manufacturer, Red 6 usually contains aluminum.
Learn more about CI 15850CI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Ethylhexyl 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 PalmitateIsononyl Isononanoate is a synthetic skin-conditioner and texture enhancer. It is created from nonanoic acid, a fatty acid found in cocoa and lavender oil.
As an emollient, Isononyl Isononanoate helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is because emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Isononyl Isononanoate helps give products a velvet feel and improves spreadability.
Learn more about Isononyl IsononanoateIsopropyl Myristate is an ester made by combining isopropyl alcohol with myristic acid.
It is primarily an emollient and penetration enhancer that gives products a lightweight, silky feel without the heaviness of oils.
This ingredient is generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, and has low absorption potential.
You might have heard that this ingredient clogs pores. This reputation comes from the older rabbit ear studies which are more sensitive than human skin to clogging.
Dermatologist Dr. Zoe Draelos has also confirmed in a peer-reviewed paper that products containing comedogenic ingredients are not necessarily comedogenic themselves.
A small subset of people (~2%) may experience contact sensitivity so patch testing is a reasonable idea if you have reactive skin.
Since this ingredient is an ester of myristic acid (a C14 fatty acid), it falls within the carbon chain range that is known to feed Malassezia. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Isopropyl MyristatePolyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidSilica, 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 SilicaStearalkonium Hectorite is a clay-derived ingredient used to thicken a product and help create a gel-like texture.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
