Tarte Maneater Silk Stick Bronzer Versus Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Melting Bronzing & Sculpting Stick
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
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Methicone
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingPropylene Carbonate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingParfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Synthetic Wax, Mica, Silica, Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Olivate, Boron Nitride, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Diisostearyl Malate, Caprylyl Glycol, Methicone, Squalane, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Propylene Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Myristic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Parfum, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
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 BenzoateCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Silica, 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 SilicaSynthetic 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.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
