What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBeeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSea Water
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Acrylates Copolymer
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Magnesium Chloride
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Iron Oxides
Water, Beeswax, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Butylene Glycol, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Aminomethyl Propanol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Pvp, Sea Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Dimethicone, Acrylates Copolymer, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Magnesium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sea Salt, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Kaolin
Abrasive
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
PEG-15 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol
Emollient
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Bentonite
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sucrose Distearate
Emollient
Vp/Va Copolymer
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Nylon-66
Simethicone
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Acrylates Copolymer, Kaolin, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, PEG-15 Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Alcohol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Sucrose Distearate, Vp/Va Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Nylon-66, Simethicone, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Iron Oxides, CI 77891, CI 77742, CI 19140, CI 77288, CI 77289, CI 75470, CI 77163, CI 42090, CI 77007
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates Copolymer is used as a film-forming agent and texture enhancer.
After applied, Acrylates Copolymer forms a thin film cover that helps skin feel more soft. It can help sunscreens become more water-resistant.
It is also used to make a product more thick.
Learn more about Acrylates CopolymerAminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCopernicia Cerifera Wax comes from a palm tree native to Brazil; another name for this ingredient is Carnauba Wax.
This ingredient is used to thicken texture and also leaves behind a film when applied.
Fun fact: This wax has the highest melting point of all natural waxes and low solubility.
Learn more about Copernicia Cerifera WaxDimethicone 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 DimethiconePhenoxyethanol 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 a preservative with antimicrobial properties. It is the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid.
It is especially effective at preventing bacterial and fungal growth in low concentrations.
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 AcidWater. 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 WaterThis 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
