What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
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 Conditioning
Aluminum 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
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 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, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, CI 77288
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Kaolin
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Microcrystalline Wax, Paraffin, Synthetic Beeswax, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Kaolin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Silica, Water, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caprylic/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 GlycolMicrocrystalline 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 ParaffinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or '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 by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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
