What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
AbrasiveTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPinus Sylvestris Bark Extract
PerfumingCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, CI 77891, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Zinc Oxide, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, CI 77492, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 77491, Phenoxyethanol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77499, Alumina, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pinus Sylvestris Bark Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientVinyldimethicone
Glycerin
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
AbrasivePhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantBoron Nitride
AbsorbentSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantQuaternium-18
SurfactantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Isohexadecane, Vinyldimethicone, Glycerin, CI 77891, Silica, Phenyl Trimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, CI 77499, Boron Nitride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Chloride, CI 77492, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, Quaternium-18, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Aluminum Hydroxide, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 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.
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 77891Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis is a silicone-polyether copolymer with skin conditioning, emulsifying, texture enhancing, and surfactant properties. It is used to help blend water and silicone based ingredients to improve slip and spreadability.
Due to its large molecular size and hydrophilic-lipophilic structure (it loves both oil and water), this ingredient is minimally absorbed into the skin.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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