What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Silica
Abrasive
Propylene Carbonate
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, CI 77891, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, CI 77492, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica, Propylene Carbonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Stearyl Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Talc, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Resveratrol, Alcohol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
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 HydroxideButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty 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 DimethiconeCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDisteardimonium 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 HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfatePeg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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 TriethoxycaprylylsilaneThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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
