What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
Emollient
Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventLecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Iron Oxides
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantTrimethylsiloxysilicate, Trisiloxane, Synthetic Wax, Mica, Dimethicone, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyethylene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Caprylyl Methicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Dicalcium Phosphate, Iron Oxides, CI 15850, CI 77891, CI 42090
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientRhus Succedanea Fruit Wax
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantC20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingParfum
Masking
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Alumina
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Geraniol
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Methyl 2-Octynoate
Perfuming
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, C10-18 Triglycerides, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax, CI 77120, C20-24 Alkyl Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Parfum, Synthetic Wax, Alumina, Lecithin, Propylene Carbonate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Geraniol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silica, Benzyl Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citric Acid, Hydroxycitronellal, Tin Oxide, Methyl 2-Octynoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbyl Palmitate is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) made by combining it with palmitic acid.
It is able to blend easily into creams and oil-based formulas because it dissolves in oils rather than water.
As you may know, regular vitamin C is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and air. Ascorbyl Palmitate is more stable and degrades at a slower rate.
Research on whether it converts efficiently into active vitamin C once it's applied on your skin is still limited.
Some in-vitro studies suggest it may support collagen production, but it is not considered one of the stronger vitamin C derivatives, like:
Due to the palmitic acid base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Comedogenic studies have also shown this ingredient to have a rating of 2.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Learn more about Ascorbyl PalmitateCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteLecithin 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.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinThis 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 CarbonateSynthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
It has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxTocopherol 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
