What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentMica
Cosmetic ColorantBoron Nitride
AbsorbentTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantTalc
AbrasiveDimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPolymethyl Methacrylate
Methylparaben
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTetrasodium EDTA
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantEthylparaben
PreservativeSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Mica, Boron Nitride, Titanium Dioxide, Talc, Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Lauroyl Lysine, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Methylparaben, CI 77891, Tetrasodium EDTA, Aluminum Hydroxide, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethylparaben, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol
Dimethicone
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPolyethylene
AbrasivePropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningBoron Nitride
AbsorbentMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Tocopherol
AntioxidantDextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTalc
AbrasiveGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Methylparaben
PreservativeTetrasodium EDTA
Paraffinum Liquidum
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPolymethyl Methacrylate
Dehydroacetic Acid
PreservativePalmitic Acid
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEscin
TonicPhoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract
MoisturisingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientRuscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentAmmonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingBrassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientProlinamidoethyl Imidazole
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone, Water, Isododecane, Isohexadecane, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Mica, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Boron Nitride, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Dextrin Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Talc, Glycine Soja Oil, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Lauroyl Lysine, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Methylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Paraffinum Liquidum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Panthenol, Escin, Phoenix Dactylifera Seed Extract, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Prolinamidoethyl Imidazole, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, 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.
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 HydroxideBoron 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.
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 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 77891Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid.
In cosmetics, it plays many roles:
One thing worth noting: a controlled study found this ingredient applied under occlusion to acne-prone subjects increased microcomedones. Just keep in mind this was under occlusive conditions and don't reflect how most products are used day-to-day.
For most people, this is a well-tolerated and lightweight ingredient.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because it is a fatty acid ester.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolThis ingredient comes from a fatty acid (lauric acid) and amino acid (lysine). It is used to add a silky feel to cosmetics.
According to a manufacturer, its fatty acid base leaves a silky feeling on the skin. It also has emollient properties because of this. Emollients help soften skin by preventing water from evaporating.
Lauroyl lysine is barely soluble in water.
Learn more about Lauroyl LysineMethylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenMica 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 MicaPhenoxyethanol 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 also known as PMMA. It is a polymer microsphere, composed of tiny, perfectly spherical particles formed from repeating units.
In cosmetics, PMMA is mainly used to give a soft or blurring effect. The transparent particles are able to scatter light and help reduce the appearance of fine-lines and imperfections.
PMMA is also able to enhance the texture of products by add a smooth feel.
Learn more about Polymethyl MethacrylateThis silica is mainly used to thicken oils and suspend particles in oils. It is not water soluble.
According to the manufacturer, it:
The manufacturer also claims this ingredient to be useful in makeup.
In lipstick formulations, this ingredient improves color payoff, reduces pigment settling, and reduces oil bleeding. This ingredient also improves the grip of powder products such as dry shampoos.
Learn more about Silica Dimethyl SilylateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTalc 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 TalcTetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
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