What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Paraffin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Synthetic Wax, Isononyl Isononanoate, Octyldodecanol, Paraffin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lecithin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Carbonate, Isostearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Glyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingKaolin
Abrasive
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Oil
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Glyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyethylene, Ozokerite, Kaolin, CI 77120, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Lecithin, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77163
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/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 TriglycerideLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Learn more about LecithinOctyldodecanol 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.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol
