What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polybutene
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Aroma
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
BHT
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide
TonicHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tribehenin
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPolybutene, Octyldodecanol, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Homosalate, Dextrin Palmitate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Diisostearyl Malate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Menthyl Lactate, Aroma, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Synthetic Wax, BHT, Bisabolol, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caffeine, Ethyl Menthane Carboxamide, Hydrated Silica, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tribehenin, CI 77891, CI 19140, CI 77491, CI 15850, CI 42090
Polybutene
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Kojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
BHT
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Ceteareth-25
CleansingButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polybutene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Microcrystalline Wax, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Kojic Dipalmitate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Water, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, BHT, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceteareth-25, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Behenic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Sucrose Cocoate, Ceramide Ns, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
BHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTYou might know this ingredient as Tinosorb S or Bemotrizinol. It is a UV filter that covers both UVA and UVB rays.
This ingredient has two peak UV absorption peaks ( 310 and 340 nm) and is able to absorb both UV-A and UV-B rays. This ingredient works by preventing UV rays from reaching and damaging your skin.
On top of that - it is highly photostable and helps prevent the photodegration of other sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone.
Tinosorb S is allowed in the EU, Australia, and Asia. It is close to being approved by the FDA and we'll hopefully get this ingredient in the U.S. by late 2026.
Fun fact: Tinosorb S is the most effective UV absorber at maximum concentration (measured by SPF) permitted in the EU.
This ingredient is oil-soluble, so your oil-cleansers will take this right off at night.
Learn more about Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl TriazineBisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.
It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.
A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.
In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.
You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.
Learn more about BisabololThis 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 ButterDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Ethylhexyl 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 a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitatePolybutene is used to help control the viscosity of a product. This just means it helps adjusts the texture.
It is a polymer and does not get absorbed into the skin due to its large size.
Studies found this ingredient did not irritate skin in concentrations below 15%.
Learn more about PolybuteneSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopheryl 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
