What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingAlumina
AbrasiveCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingHexyl Laurate
EmollientC30-45 Alkyl Methicone
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingC30-45 Olefin
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecanol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSilk Amino Acids
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingSorbic Acid
PreservativeTalc
AbrasiveCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Titanium Dioxide, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Triethylhexanoin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Alumina, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, C30-45 Alkyl Methicone, Stearic Acid, C30-45 Olefin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, CI 77492, Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Silk Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Sorbic Acid, Talc, CI 77891, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum
Titanium Dioxide 13.7%
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 4.9%
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveEthylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientPolyethylene
AbrasiveIron Oxides
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Silica
AbrasivePolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingAlumina
AbrasiveStearic Acid
CleansingWater
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientTribehenin
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide 13.7%, Zinc Oxide 4.9%, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Squalane, Talc, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Polyethylene, Iron Oxides, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Alumina, Stearic Acid, Water, Beeswax, BHT, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cera Microcristallina, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tribehenin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is a white powder used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive.
As an absorbent, alumina can give a mattifying effect. It is used in mineral sunscreens to help coat nano-sized filters, such as titanium dioxide. By increasing the size of the UV filters, these ingredients stay on the skin for a longer time. By coating small sized ingredients, alumina helps thicken a product.
Alumina may be used as an abrasive, or exfoliant.
Alumina is naturally occurring in the mineral corundum. Certain varieties of corundum create rubies and sapphires. Corundum is also the crystalline form of alumina.
Learn more about AluminaCaprylic/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 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 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 77492Ci 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 77891We don't have a description for Isodecyl Neopentanoate yet.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTalc is a clay mineral. It helps absorb moisture and improve the texture of products. Like other types of clay, Talc can have a slight exfoliating effect on skin. Talc can be added to increase the volume of products.
Some Baby powders are made by combining talc with corn starch. The word "talc" comes from Latin and originates from Arabic. Talc is a mineral commonly found throughout the world.
If you have any concerns about using talc, we recommend checking out the FDA's official page.
Learn more about TalcTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideWe don't have a description for Tocopheryl Glucoside yet.
Water. 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