What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isodecyl Isononanoate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientDicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantIsodecyl Isononanoate, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Synthetic Wax, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Polyethylene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Diamond Powder, Lauroyl Lysine, Persea Gratissima Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Iron Oxides, CI 77891, CI 42090
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingPolyethylene
Abrasive
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Dicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ozokerite, Polyethylene, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Octyldodecanol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Laureth-4, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Water
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 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 BenzoateThis ingredient is a mineral salt of calcium and phosphate. It is mainly used as a mild abrasive and sometimes used to add opacity to a formula.
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamatePolyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about Polymethylsilsesquioxane
