What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Opunta Dillenii Extract
Xylitol
Humectant
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPropylene Carbonate
SolventCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Magnesium Sulfate
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Glycerin, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Squalane, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Sr-Hydrozoan Polypeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Phytosterols, Opunta Dillenii Extract, Xylitol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Betaine, Magnesium Sulfate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Phosphatidylcholine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77163, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
C9-12 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Magnesium Sulfate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lysine
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Magnesium Chloride
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Algin
Masking
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pullulan
Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
AbsorbentLimonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77947
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecanol, Hexyl Laurate, C9-12 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Propanediol, Mica, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Niacinamide, Magnesium Sulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Parfum, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Collagen Amino Acids, Pentylene Glycol, Lysine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Magnesium Chloride, Polyglutamic Acid, Algin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pullulan, Haberlea Rhodopensis Leaf Extract, Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, CI 77891, Iron Oxides, CI 77491, CI 77947, CI 77499
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 HydroxideCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is a lightweight ester created from coconut oil fatty acids, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is an emollient that helps soften skin and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL). What sets it apart from heavier emollients is its ultralight, non-greasy feel.
Once applied, this ingredient dries down quickly and leaves a dry, silky finish behind. This also helps improve spreadability and texture.
This ingredient has an excellent safety-record and is non-irritating.
Typical concentrations for cosmetics range from 0.5-62%.
Research on Malassezia growth found no growth on fatty acid esters with chain lengths shorter than 12 carbons (it prefers C11-24).
Since Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is built on C8 and C10 fatty acids, it is out of the range that Malassezia metabolizes, and therefore safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin (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 SulfatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
