What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 6%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 9%
UV Absorber
Isododecane
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsohexadecane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningSilica Silylate
Emollient
Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningEthylcellulose
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingHimanthalia Elongata Extract
Skin Protecting
Meadowfoam Estolide
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 6%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 9%, Isododecane, Octyldodecanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diisopropyl Adipate, Silica, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Silica Silylate, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Ethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Himanthalia Elongata Extract, Meadowfoam Estolide, Tocopherol
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC13-15 Alkane
SolventHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Tribehenin
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Stearalkonium Bentonite
Gel FormingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Hesperethusa Crenulata Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Oryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Benincasa Cerifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Malic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Zinc Oxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C13-15 Alkane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Tribehenin, Diisostearyl Malate, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Glycine Soja Oil, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Hesperethusa Crenulata Bark Extract, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Benincasa Cerifera Seed Extract, Isostearic Acid, Malic Acid, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butyloctyl Salicylate is a chemical UV filter structurally similar to octisalate. It is a photostabilizer, SPF booster, emollient and solvent. This ingredient helps evenly spread out ingredients.
According to a manufacturer, it is suitable for pairing with micro Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and pigments.
Photostabilizers help stabilize UV-filters and prevents them from degrading quickly.
Learn more about Butyloctyl SalicylateC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolOctyldodecanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopherol 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
