What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyisobutene
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningTridecyl Trimellitate, Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Polyisobutene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Synthetic Beeswax, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Water, Niacinamide, Pantothenic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Carbonate
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Calcium Titanium Borosilicate
Abrasive
Parfum
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningDiamond Powder
Abrasive
Ruby Powder
Skin ConditioningSapphire Powder
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyisobutene, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Synthetic Beeswax, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Calcium Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Parfum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891, CI 15985, CI 73360, Tocopherol, Tin Oxide, Water, Diamond Powder, Ruby Powder, Sapphire Powder
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
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDiisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer is an exfoliant.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilPentaerythrityl 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 HydroxyhydrocinnamatePolyisobutene is a synthetic polymer made from isobutene.
It is a film-forming agent and helps bind ingredients together.
Polyisobutene is not absorbed by the skin.
Learn more about PolyisobuteneSynthetic beeswax is created to be identical in structure to beeswax. It possesses the same occlusive and emulsion properties.
A blend of fatty acid esters, fatty acids, and alcohols are used to create synthetic beeswax. Whether or not this ingredient is vegan depends on the source. Sometimes, lanolin is used for its creation.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Synthetic BeeswaxSynthetic 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.
It has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
