What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingOctyldodecanol
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveMagnesium Sulfate
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningKojic Acid
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingPolyurethane-100
Isostearic Acid
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingMica
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingQuaternium-90 Bentonite
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Olivate, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, C15-19 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triheptanoin, Silica, Magnesium Sulfate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lecithin, Caffeine, Kojic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Polyurethane-100, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Mica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Propylene Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Zinc Oxide 12.6%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycrylene
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingJojoba Esters
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingOpuntia Tuna Fruit
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialIron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 12.6%, Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, C9-12 Alkane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Mica, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Jojoba Esters, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Opuntia Tuna Fruit, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C9-12 Alkane is synethically created using alkanes, or paraffins. It is added to products as a solvent. This means its main purpose is to help dissolve ingredients and create even texture.
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 TriglycerideCi 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 77891Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinIsostearic 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. This is because the original comedogenic tests (on rabbit ears, which are more sensitive than human skin) tested
The Kligman/Fulton rabbit ear papers 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 AcidLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate is a plant-derived emulsifier made by combining glycerin and ricinoleic acid.
It works well for giving buttery lip balms and low-viscosity water-in-oil emulsions a non-greasy and pleasant skin feel.
Typical concentrations range from 0.1-3%.
This ingredient is mild and non-irritating in nature.
Because it is derived from ricinoleic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. Ricinoleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can metabolize.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 PolyricinoleatePolyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidWater. 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