What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Rosa Alba Flower Extract
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Silica, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lauroyl Lysine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Water, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Rosa Alba Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Myristate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningErythrulose
TanningPalmitoyl Isoleucine
Skin ProtectingIsochrysis Galbana Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Ptfe
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Silica, Boron Nitride, Lauroyl Lysine, Magnesium Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Water, Erythrulose, Palmitoyl Isoleucine, Isochrysis Galbana Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Ptfe, Polyethylene, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, CI 77163
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Boron 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.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideThis 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 LysineMica 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 MicaOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate is created from stearic acid.
It is an emollient and thickens the lipid (oil) portion of a product. Due to its emollient properties, it may not be fungal-acne safe.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
