What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Magnesium Sulfate
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyclohexasiloxane, Water, Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Sulfate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Parfum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica Silylate, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, BHT, Limonene, Linalool, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingCyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-30 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSilica Silylate
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion Stabilising2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningPerlite
Absorbent
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientGuanosine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Cinnamic Acid
Perfuming
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Poloxamer 188
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentasodium Ethylenediamine Tetramethylene Phosphonate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Polycaprolactone
StabilisingBHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Cyathea Medullaris Leaf Extract, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-30 Glyceryl Stearate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethicone, Caffeine, Lecithin, Sodium Levulinate, Silica Silylate, Cellulose Gum, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Perlite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Guanosine, Magnesium Sulfate, Cinnamic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Poloxamer 188, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentasodium Ethylenediamine Tetramethylene Phosphonate, Xanthan Gum, Levulinic Acid, Polycaprolactone, BHT, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77163, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, Mica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideBHT is a synthetic antioxidant and preservative.
As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.
As a preservative, it is used to stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Specifically, BHT prevents degradation from oxidation.
The concerns related to BHT come from oral studies; this ingredient is currently allowed for use by both the FDA and EU.
However, it was recently restricted for use in the UK as of April 2024.
Learn more about BHTThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDSG is used as a surfactant.
Surfactants are cleansing ingredients that help remove oil, dirt, and other impurities from the skin. They work by reducing surface tension between water and oils/dirt to allow them to be easily rinsed away.
Magnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfatePEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone is a modified version of dimethicone with emulsifying properties. It helps add a silky and lightweight feel to products like sunscreens and foundations.
Its unique structure allows it to bridge the gap between water-loving and oil-loving ingredients. This makes it especially good at creating stable, velvety, and elegant formulations.
Pentaerythrityl 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 HydroxyhydrocinnamatePhenoxyethanol 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.
This ingredient is an emulsifer and stabilizer. It comes from isostearic acid and polyglycerin.
As an emulsifier, it helps blend oil and water to improve texture, spreadbility, and application.
Due to it being derived from isostearic acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-4 IsostearatePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSilica Silylate is a siloxane polymer, meaning it is made up of silicon and oxygen atoms. It is not soluble in water.
This ingredient is a white powder with oil-absorbing, emollient, and anticaking properties.
Tocopherol 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 Tocopherol
