What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingIsocetyl Stearate
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
AbrasiveEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingNylon-12
Octyldodecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningPropylparaben
PreservativePropylene Carbonate
SolventSorbitan Isostearate, Isocetyl Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyethylene, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Beeswax, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Nylon-12, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Tocopherol, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Propylparaben, Propylene Carbonate
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveC10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters
EmulsifyingTrimethylolpropane Triisostearate
EmollientHydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPolybutene
Cera Alba
EmollientCI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPolyethylene
AbrasiveButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingPaeonia Officinalis Flower Extract
TonicSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlucomannan
Skin ConditioningCI 12085
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Wax, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Polybutene, Cera Alba, CI 77220, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyethylene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables, Parfum, Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Propylene Carbonate, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Trihydroxystearin, Propyl Gallate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucomannan, CI 12085, CI 15850, CI 15985, CI 17200, CI 19140, CI 42090, CI 45380, CI 45410, CI 73360, CI 77163, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77742, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Unsaponifiables comes from shea butter.
Unsaponifiables means the butter is not saponified, or it has not been turned into soap using an alkali reaction.
This ingredient contains Vitamin E, sterols, and many antioxidants. These compounds help hydate your skin.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii Butter UnsaponifiablesOctyldodecanol 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.
Polyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
This ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateJojoba 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