What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Stearate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientSapphire Powder
Citric Acid
BufferingCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77000
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Silica, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zinc Stearate, Tin Oxide, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sapphire Powder, Citric Acid, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77742, CI 77891, CI 77007, CI 77491, CI 15850, CI 42090, CI 45410, CI 77510, CI 77000, CI 19140, Iron Oxides, CI 77288
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Dimethicone
EmollientMagnesium Myristate
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningBoron Nitride
AbsorbentDimethiconol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTin Oxide
AbrasiveCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPolyethylene Terephthalate
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Polybutylene Terephthalate
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingPolyurethane-33
Ethylene/Va Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialAluminum PCA
AstringentCI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Silica
AbrasiveTalc
AbrasiveCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
CI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15880
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 47005
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientTmp Dimethicone
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dimethicone, Magnesium Myristate, Lauroyl Lysine, Boron Nitride, Dimethiconol, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, CI 75470, CI 77491, Mica, CI 77891, Zinc Stearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Magnesium Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, CI 16035, CI 19140, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, Synthetic Beeswax, Polyurethane-33, Ethylene/Va Copolymer, Dehydroacetic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Aluminum PCA, CI 77266, Iron Oxides, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Talc, CI 42090, CI 77492, CI 77007, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, CI 77510, CI 77742, CI 15850, CI 77163, CI 77288, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 45410, CI 15880, Titanium Dioxide, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, CI 15985, CI 47005, Cetyl Dimethicone, Tmp Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, CI 77499, CI 77289
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate is a bulking agent. It is considered a borosilicate glass; it is composed of powder or flakes of calcium and sodium borosilicates.
This ingredient is used to add volume, shine, and color to products. You'll most likely find this ingredient in makeup products.
According to in-vivo and ex-vivo studies done by a manufacturer, this ingredient works well with UV filters:
Learn more about Calcium Sodium BorosilicateCi 15850 is the pigment color red. It is an azo dye and created synthetically.
Azo dyes need to be thoroughly purified before use. This allows them to be more stable and longer-lasting.
This ingredient is common in foundations, lipsticks, and blushes. This color is described as brown/orangey red.
It has many secondary names such as Red 6 and Red 7. According to a manufacturer, Red 6 usually contains aluminum.
Learn more about CI 15850CI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Ci 42090 is a synthetic dye created from petroleum. It is used to give a bright blue color to cosmetics, medicine, and food.
CI 45410 is a synthetic red-pigment and dye.
It often goes by both Red 28 or Red 27; manufacturers label both ingredients as CI 45410.
This dye is commonly found in makeup because it imparts a vivid color. Some types of this dye change color based on pH level and interaction with moisture:
Your skin has a natural pH of around 4.5 - 5.5.
According to the FDA, CI 45410 is not permitted for use in eye products.
Red 27 is a flourescein dye and commonly used as a fluorescent tracer in medicine.
Learn more about CI 45410This pigment is called Ultramarine blue lazurite. It gives a saturated blue color, but can be used to create other colors as well.
According to the manufacturer, it is usually made from kaolin, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sulfur, and charcoal.
Ci 77288 is used to add green pigment to products.
Ci 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491This ingredient is used to impart a blue color. It is not water-soluble.
It goes by two different names:
1. Ferric Ferrocyanide: a synthetic dark blue pigment
2. Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide: a synthetic blue pigment, also called Prussian blue
In the EU, both of these colors must be labeled as 'CI 77510'.
Learn more about CI 77510This ingredient is used to add a violet color to cosmetics.
It is created by reacting phosphoric acid, ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate, and manganese dioxide.
Ci 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 77891Mica 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 MicaSilica, 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 SilicaSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneZinc Stearate is the metal salt of stearic acid. It is a white solid used to bind, thicken, and lubricate products.
This ingredient is common in powder makeup, where it helps keep the powder together.
Zinc Stearate is hydrophobic and repels water.
This ingredient can be sourced from non-animal or animal sources. It is best to reach out to the brand to see where they source this ingredient from.
Learn more about Zinc StearateThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides