What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientMagnesium Oxide
AbsorbentDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Tetraisostearate
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Magnesium Hydroxide
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Ozokerite, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Synthetic Wax, Microcrystalline Wax, Boron Nitride, Diisostearyl Malate, Magnesium Oxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Mica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-2 Tetraisostearate, Propylene Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Magnesium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77163, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPropanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingUndecane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tridecane
Perfuming
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide, Water, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Isopropyl Myristate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Alcohol Denat., Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Silica, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Undecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tridecane, Polyglycerin-6, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
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 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Tocopherol 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
