What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 8%
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningC26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTridecyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIsohexadecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
SurfactantMethylpropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSilica
AbrasivePolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPropylene Carbonate
SolventLecithin
EmollientBisabolol
AntioxidantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPhenylpropanol
MaskingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingZinc Oxide 8%, Water, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Caprylyl Methicone, C26-28 Alkyl Dimethicone, Tridecyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Isohexadecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Methylpropanediol, Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Chloride, Silica, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77491, Allantoin, Propylene Carbonate, Lecithin, Bisabolol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, CI 77492, Phenylpropanol, Mica, Tin Oxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, CI 77499, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSqualane
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Myristyl Alcohol
EmollientVp/Va Copolymer
Beheneth-30
CleansingGlyceryl Isostearate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAlumina
AbrasiveTin Oxide
AbrasiveCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Cetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77000
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77400
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Myristyl Alcohol, Vp/Va Copolymer, Beheneth-30, Glyceryl Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Alumina, Tin Oxide, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulose Gum, Carbomer, Ethylene Brassylate, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77000, CI 77163, CI 77400, CI 77289, CI 77288, CI 77510, CI 77742, CI 77007, CI 42090, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 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.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecaneMica 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 MicaSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
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