Benefit Total Moisture Deep Hydrating Facial Cream

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Aqua
2. Water
3. Dicaprylyl Carbonate
4. Hydrogenated lanolin
5. Squalane
6. Glycerin
7. Methyl trimethicone
8. Glyceryl Stearate
9. Stearyl Alcohol
10. PEG-8
11. Pentylene Glycol
12. Triglyceride
13. Ceteth-20
14. Ethylhexyl Palmitate
15. Dimethicone
16. Betaine
17. Decyloxazolidinone
18. Phenoxyethanol
19. Cetyl Alcohol
20. Palmitic Acid
21. Stearic Acid
22. Parfum
23. Fragrance
24. Steareth-25
25. Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
26. Mango
27. Steareth-21
28. Tetrasodium EDTA
29. Tocopheryl Acetate
30. Carbomer
31. Xylitylglucoside
32. Sorbitol
33. Linalool
34. Anhydroxylitol
35. Sodium Hydroxide
36. Algin
37. Xylitol
38. Hexyl Cinnamal
39. Limonene
40. Polyvinyl Alcohol
41. Cellulose gum
42. Tocopherol
43. BHT

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains animal-derivedContains siliconesContains EU-26 allergensContains fragranceContains essential oils

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Dicaprylyl CarbonateSqualaneGlyceryl StearateStearyl Alcohol

DENATURANT

Glycerin

HAIR CONDITIONING

Methyl trimethicone

Other ingredients

Hydrogenated lanolinPEG-8Pentylene GlycolTriglycerideCeteth-20Ethylhexyl PalmitateDimethiconeBetaineDecyloxazolidinonePhenoxyethanolCetyl AlcoholPalmitic AcidStearic AcidParfumFragranceSteareth-25Mangifera Indica Seed ButterMangoSteareth-21Tetrasodium EDTATocopheryl AcetateCarbomerXylitylglucosideSorbitolLinaloolAnhydroxylitolSodium HydroxideAlginXylitolHexyl CinnamalLimonenePolyvinyl AlcoholCellulose gumTocopherolBHT

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Light emollient solvent at 5–15%; mineral oil-free, refreshing feel, low sensitization.

Hydrogenated lanolin

Not decoded yet

Squalane

Emollient from plants or synthetic; light texture

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Methyl trimethicone

Methyl trimethicone, light volatile silicone; non-comedogenic, good powder compatibility.

Glyceryl Stearate

Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification

Stearyl Alcohol

Stearic alcohol; fatty alcohol for emulsion thickening/structure, often blended with soaps, moderate comedogenicity.

PEG-8

Not decoded yet

Pentylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin

Triglyceride

Not decoded yet

Ceteth-20

Not decoded yet

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Synthetic ester emollient with light skin feel; small molecule, slightly comedogenic, use cautiously for acne-prone skin, often blended with other oils.

Dimethicone

Silicone occlusive at 1–5%; provides smooth feel, non-penetrating, suitable for sensitive skin

Betaine

Betaine for mild moisturizing/surfactant; low concentration 1-2% common, high may irritate.

Decyloxazolidinone

Decyloxazolidinone, antimicrobial/skin conditioner; low concentration safe, moderate irritation, avoid metal contact

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Cetyl Alcohol

Cetyl alcohol for emulsification/thickening; high concentration >10% may irritate.

Palmitic Acid

Palmitic acid for emulsification/emollient; solid fat, high melting point, occlusive.

Stearic Acid

Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel

Parfum

Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.

Fragrance

Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components

Steareth-25

Not decoded yet

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Plant butter rich in fatty acids; provides lipid occlusion and emollience. Use with emulsifiers.

Mango

Not decoded yet

Steareth-21

Not decoded yet

Tetrasodium EDTA

Chelator removing metal ions to enhance antioxidant and preservative efficacy; very low usage, typically 0.05-0.1%, no direct skincare function.

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Xylitylglucoside

Polyol humectant with high water absorption and fresh feel; often co-used with propylene glycol for enhanced hydration.

Sorbitol

Polyol humectant with strong hygroscopy; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives; also a solvent or adjuster.

Linalool

Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin

Anhydroxylitol

Anhydrous xylitol, potent humectant; high hygroscopicity may cause stickiness at high levels.

Sodium Hydroxide

Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care

Algin

Seaweed-derived thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, mind calcium ion compatibility

Xylitol

Polyol humectant, sweet taste; water-soluble, high hygroscopy, excess draws moisture.

Hexyl Cinnamal

Common fragrance component (jasmine/vanilla note); listed EU allergen, requires labeling at >10ppm (leave-on).

Limonene

Natural fragrance solvent, EU allergen; poor photostability

Polyvinyl Alcohol

Film/viscosity agent for masks/cleansers; water-soluble, forms flexible film

Cellulose gum

Cellulose gum, water-soluble thickener/stabilizer; may destabilize with cationics, hydrate first.

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

BHT

Lipophilic antioxidant at 0.01-0.05%; ineffective with acidic systems, label-sensitive, check regulatory limits as preservative alternative.