What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polybutene
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil
MaskingCapsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Nicotinate
AntioxidantVanillyl Butyl Ether
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningIsostearic Acid
CleansingMenthyl Ethylamido Oxalate
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxymethoxyphenyl Propylmethylmethoxybenzofuran
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAroma
Benzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCinnamal
PerfumingCinnamyl Alcohol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolybutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopheryl Nicotinate, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Isostearic Acid, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Propylmethylmethoxybenzofuran, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Aroma, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Eugenol, CI 45410, CI 73360, CI 42090, CI 77491, CI 77891
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningJojoba Esters
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientTocopheryl Nicotinate
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
AstringentPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRuby Powder
Skin ConditioningSapphire Powder
Tocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolyglycerin-3
HumectantVanillin
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveMica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeAroma
Citral
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantSucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Jojoba Esters, Isononyl Isononanoate, Tocopheryl Nicotinate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Ruby Powder, Sapphire Powder, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglycerin-3, Vanillin, Glycerin, Water, Silica, Mica, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Aroma, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891, Iron Oxides, CI 73360
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aroma refers to an ingredient, or mixture of ingredients, that impart or mask a flavor.
The name is slightly confusing. This is because INCI associates aroma with flavor instead of smell.
Here is the official definition from the The International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook:
“Aroma is a term for ingredient labeling used to identify that a product contains a material or combination of materials normally added to a cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular flavor.”
INCI shows the only purpose of aroma to be "flavouring".
However, due to regulation differences, some companies may use aroma in place of parfum.
In Canada, this ingredient only has to be listed in concentrations above 1%.
Learn more about AromaCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCi 73360 is a synthetic red-pink dye.
It is soluble in water and remains chemically stable across a range of pH levels typically used in cosmetics. This helps manufacturers maintain uniform color throughout a product’s shelf life.
Because this ingredient is a regulated cosmetic colorant, its purity, manufacturing standards, and allowed uses are defined by cosmetic regulations in major markets.
Learn more about CI 73360Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilOctyldodecanol 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.
This ingredient is also known as Avocado oil. It's the cold-pressed oil from the flesh of the avocado fruit packed with fatty acids (mostly oleic acid).
The rich fatty acid profile allows it to function as a skin conditioning agent and emollient; it helps soften and smooth skin while reducing water loss.
Preclinical research has found that topical avocado oil increased collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation during wound healing, giving it some skin-repairing credibility.
The unsaponifiable fraction of the oil is also interesting: studies on avocado unsaponifiables showed that it helped skin produce more collagen and other structural compounds that support healing.
The CIR Expert Panel has found this ingredient to be non-irritating in formulations.
It's a great ingredient for dry or compromised skin. Just know it may not be fungal acne safe. This is because the oleic acid content falls within the range that Malassezia can use as a food source.
Learn more about Persea Gratissima OilJojoba 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.
Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopheryl 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 AcetateTocopheryl Nicotinate is an antioxidant.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water