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
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyisobutene
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Dimer Dilinoleyl Diisostearate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientEthylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Calcium Titanium Borosilicate
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Silica
Abrasive
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hesperidin
EmollientDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Diisostearate, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tin Oxide, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Water, Butylene Glycol, Retinyl Palmitate, Bioflavonoids, Ascorbic Acid, Hesperidin, Dehydroacetic Acid, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidThis ingredient is lipid-based synthetic skin-conditioning agent derived from adipic acid and a mixture of fatty acids. It is often called a lanolin substitute.
As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate the skin. Emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in.
Due to its fatty acid base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2Diisostearyl 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.
Octyldodecanol 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.
Polyisobutene 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 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
