What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Petrolatum
Emollient
Lanolin Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
Abrasive
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Tribehenate/Isostearate/Eicosandioate
Emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalmon Egg Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Steareth-20
CleansingN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningDiacetyl Boldine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Chrysin
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Petrolatum, Lanolin Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Paraffin, Polyethylene, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Glyceryl Tribehenate/Isostearate/Eicosandioate, Microcrystalline Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salmon Egg Extract, Water, Glycerin, Steareth-20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Diacetyl Boldine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyisobutene
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantParaffin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMethicone
Emollient
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Foeniculum Vulgare Leaf Extract
HumectantLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
CI 77891, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyisobutene, Mica, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butyloctyl Salicylate, CI 77492, Paraffin, Aluminum Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Microcrystalline Wax, CI 77491, Methicone, CI 77499, Caprylyl Glycol, Squalane, Parfum, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Water, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77288, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is a fragrance. It can be synthetically created or naturally occurring.
The scent of Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone is described as "flowery" but can also be "woody".
Naturally occurring Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone may be found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or the yeast used to make wine and bread.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about Alpha-Isomethyl IononeCaprylic/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 TriglycerideLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolMicrocrystalline Wax is derived from petroleum through a de-oiling process, then highly refined and purified before use in cosmetics.
In skincare formulations, it is used to improve texture and create a smooth, even consistency. It also helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating.
Paraffin is a solid wax that pulls its weight as an emollient, occlusive, and consistency-booster.
It softens skin and lays down a protective film to slow water loss and gives products a stable body and structure.
The cosmetic grade stuff is highly refined with a solid safety record. The CIR Expert Panel has repeatedly reaffirmed this ingredient to be safe in current practices of use and concentration.
The worry about carcinogenic compounds only applies to industrial grades, not the purified version used in skincare.
Despite its reputation, the highly reformed form is non-comedogenic and doesn't penetrate deeply into skin.
The good news for fungal-acne prone folks: the Malassezia yeast feeds on fatty acids and lipids and paraffin doesn't contain any of these (so there's nothing for the yeast to metabolize). This ingredient is considered fungal acne safe.
Learn more about ParaffinSorbitan Sesquioleate is derived from sorbitol and oleic acid. It is an emulsifier and prevents ingredients from separating.
Specifically, this ingredient is a water-in-oil emulsifier, meaning it helps water dissolve into oil.
Some studies suggest this ingredient may cause irritation in some people. If you are unsure, it is best to patch test.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe due to the oleic acid. In vitro studies have shown that Oleic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
Learn more about Sorbitan SesquioleateWater. 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
