What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Myristate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningErythrulose
TanningPalmitoyl Isoleucine
Skin ProtectingIsochrysis Galbana Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Ptfe
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Silica, Boron Nitride, Lauroyl Lysine, Magnesium Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Water, Erythrulose, Palmitoyl Isoleucine, Isochrysis Galbana Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Ptfe, Polyethylene, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, CI 77163
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Ptfe
Kaolin
Abrasive
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Isoeicosane
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
CI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Boron Nitride is compound consisting of boron and nitrogen. It is used to absorb oil and modify adherence/ slip in products.
This means it is often used in makeup products to help them last longer.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. 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. Be sure to 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.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideThis synthetic powder is used to add a pearly/white color in cosmetics.
Mica 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 MicaPolyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
PTFE is a form of PFAS, or "Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances". This ingredient has been used in commercial applications since the 1940's.
In cosmetics, PTFE is most commonly used as bulking agents, to improve consistency, or to improve texture.
PFAS compounds are currently under scrutiny due to possible health risks. This is mostly due to one type of PFAS: PFOA.
PFOA is no longer used in cosmetics and is highly restricted in many countries.
Today, PFAS are used widely in the medical field. They often play an important role in medical equipment such as catheters and medical implants.
In 2018, the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety found PTFE to be safe for use in cosmetics and personal care productions.
This ingredient is commonly found in mascara (up to 13%) and hair bleach (up to 2.4%). Studies show this ingredient does not cause skin or eye irritation.
The EU allows PTFE to be used in cosmetics without restrictions.
All federal agencies do state further research about PFAS in cosmetics is needed.
Whether you choose to use this ingredient is a personal choice. We recommend adding this ingredient to your liked or disliked list so you can be notified anytime a product contains this ingredient.
Learn more about PtfeSilica, 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 SilicaThis 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
