What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polybutene
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantStevioside
MaskingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningDipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientSorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate
EmulsifyingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPolybutene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cera Microcristallina, Paraffin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stevioside, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Water, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Tribehenin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAroma
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientEthylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningTribehenin
EmollientDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Saccharin
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingLimonene
PerfumingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantDiisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Synthetic Wax, Cera Microcristallina, Mica, Isostearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aroma, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Tribehenin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Saccharin, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Limonene, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Titanium Dioxide, CI 15850
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 is a synthetic emollient that works as a lanolin substitute.
This ingredient is a great vegan option for those avoiding animal-derived ingredients.
It mostly stays on the surface of skin where it helps hydrate due to its large molecular size and low water solubility.
Due to it being derived from fatty acids, this ingredient may not be Malassezia or fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2This ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is a plant-derived extract from the nuts of the Africa shea tree and one of the most well-studied emollients.
Because it has a high concentration of fatty acids (primarily oleic, stearic, and linoleic) it is able to form a protective barrier on the skin's surface. This helps seal in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
In vitro research found an increase in skin hydration by 58% and a decrease in TEWL by 37.8% after 24 hours of applying this ingredient (pretty impressive for a single ingredient!).
Besides hydration, shea butter also contains triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory potential. In particule, lupeol cinnamate has shown the highest anti-inflammatory activity in vivo.
Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E which may contribute to antioxidant activity.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because its fatty acids fall within the C11-C24 range that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCera Microcristallina, aka microcrystalline wax, is a petroleum-derived wax that helps thicken texture and stabilize the oils in formulas.
It also has mild occlusive properties that creates a film on skin to slow down water loss.
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
This ingredient is refined to a cosmetic grade with high purity. It is chemically inert, stable, and doesn't clog pores (petroleum has a comedogenic rating of 0).
Malassezia feeds on fatty acids roughly in the C11-24 range and this ingredient contains none of those. Since there's no plausible food source for it here, this ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cera MicrocristallinaDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is an ester of palmitic acid, a C16 fatty acid that falls within the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateTocopheryl 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 AcetateTribehenin is the triglyceride of glycerin and behenic acid. It is an emollient that helps soften and condition skin.
Safety-wise, this is a well-vetted ingredient. Repeated-insult patch tests of 0.38% tribehenin did not trigger sensitization.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because behenic acid falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia yeasts can feed on.
Learn more about Tribehenin