What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
AbrasiveParaffin
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingIsostearic Acid
CleansingSilica
AbrasiveCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Petrolatum
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Methyl Trimethicone, Polyethylene, Paraffin, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Dipropylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Dextrin Palmitate, Microcrystalline Wax, Isostearic Acid, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Petrolatum, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77499
Isododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
AbrasiveDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Skin ConditioningIsostearic Acid
CleansingCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Petrolatum
EmollientOctyldodecyl Isostearate
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Polyethylene
AbrasiveTocopherol
AntioxidantCamellia Seed Oil
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientSqualane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningRoyal Jelly Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSilica
AbrasiveTalc
AbrasiveMica
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Methyl Trimethicone, Synthetic Wax, Dextrin Palmitate, Microcrystalline Wax, Beeswax, Paraffin, Isostearic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Petrolatum, Octyldodecyl Isostearate, Pentaerythrityl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Polyethylene, Tocopherol, Camellia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Squalane, Panthenol, Alcohol, Water, Royal Jelly Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Talc, Mica, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Copernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxDextrin Palmitate is an oil-loving texture helper made by bonding palmitic acid onto Dextrin. It's main roles are to turn liquid oils into spreadable gels and prevent ingredients from separating.
It also lends a silky, non-greasy slip that makes products feel more elegant.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.5-5%, but can go up to 10% depending on how firm the gel is.
Because it's an ester built on a fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Dextrin PalmitateIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneIsostearic Acid is a fatty acid and a structural cousin of stearic acid. It is an emulsifier.
The branched structure of this ingredient enhances fluidity and gives it a lighter, less greasy feel compared to other fatty acids. It helps improve texture and consistency because it prevents oil and water phases from separating.
This ingredient is sourced from plant-based oils like soybean or rapeseed.
Clinical studies found no signs of irritation from this ingredient.
Since Isostearic Acid is an 18-carbon fatty acid, it is in the range that Malassezia can feed on. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
You might have seen sources that this ingredient is comedogenic. The original comedogenic testing on rabbit ear actually tested the ester, Isopropyl Isostearate and not Isostearic acid itself. There has been no comedogenic testing done on this ingredient, but it may be worth patch testing if you have acne-prone skin.
Learn more about Isostearic AcidMethyl Trimethicone is a type of silicone. It is a solvent and emulsifier.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Methyl Trimethicone does not get absorbed into the skin.
Learn more about Methyl TrimethiconeMicrocrystalline 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 ParaffinPetrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.
This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.
Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.
The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.
Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.
Petrolatum is fungal acne safe. It is a hydrocarbon with no fatty acid structure, so Malassezia cannot metabolize it. In-vitro studies support negligible growth stimulation as well.
It's also worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.
Learn more about PetrolatumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polyethylene 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.
Silica, 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 SilicaTocopherol 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 TocopherolThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about Trimethylsiloxysilicate