What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientTalc
AbrasiveCoco-Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Tetradecenyl/Methylpentadecene
SolventTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Dimethiconol Stearate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Talc, Coco-Caprylate, Hydrogenated Tetradecenyl/Methylpentadecene, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethiconol Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Didecene
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantOctyldodecanol
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Isoamyl Laurate
EmollientHydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingTin Oxide
AbrasivePentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Didecene, Squalane, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Isoamyl Laurate, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tin Oxide, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 77163
Reviews
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 HydroxideCaprylyl 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeCi 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 77491CI 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 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
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 77891Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoritePhenoxyethanol 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.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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 TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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