What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Acrylates Copolymer
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Silica
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Titanium Borosilicate
Abrasive
Polypropylene
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPhytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPropylene Carbonate
SolventMagnesium Myristate
Methylpropanediol
SolventMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPropanediol
Solvent
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Nylon-12
Diglyceryl Sebacate/Isopalmitate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTalc
Abrasive
CI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTricalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantDimethiconol Stearate
EmollientOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Aluminum Dimyristate
Emulsion StabilisingLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Shorea Robusta Seed Butter
Emollient
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Polybutene
Vitis Vinifera
MaskingMethicone
Emollient
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientMagnesium/Potassium/Silicon/Fluoride/Hydroxide/Oxide
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Polyethylene Terephthalate, Acrylates Copolymer, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, CI 77891, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Polypropylene, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Octyldodecanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Magnesium Myristate, Methylpropanediol, Magnesium Stearate, Propanediol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Hexyl Laurate, Nylon-12, Diglyceryl Sebacate/Isopalmitate, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Phenoxyethanol, Synthetic Wax, CI 77491, Talc, CI 77220, Mica, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tricalcium Phosphate, Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, CI 77499, CI 77007, CI 73360, CI 77492, CI 19140, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, CI 77742, CI 77004, CI 42090, Dimethiconol Stearate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Aluminum Dimyristate, Lauroyl Lysine, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Shorea Robusta Seed Butter, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Polybutene, Vitis Vinifera, Methicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Magnesium/Potassium/Silicon/Fluoride/Hydroxide/Oxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone
Isododecane
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
C13-16 Isoalkane
SolventLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingDicalcium Phosphate
Abrasive
Stearoyl Glutamic Acid
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Wax, C13-16 Isoalkane, Lauroyl Lysine, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Polyethylene, Ozokerite, Dicalcium Phosphate, Stearoyl Glutamic Acid, Tocopherol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is a synthetic powder used as an absorbent, thickener, and anti-caking agent.
As an absorbent, it is great at mattifying skin by soaking up the oil. This is why you'll find it in a range of products from makeup to moisturizers.
This ingredient is considered a modified starch. Starch can also be found naturally in plants.
One study from 1991 found that 5% of this ingredient enhanced titanium dioxide SPF by as much as 40%. The study found 1% titanium dioxide had a 5.6 SPF and adding 5% of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate boosted it to an SPF of 8.1
Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”
Learn more about Aluminum Starch OctenylsuccinateCi 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 77891This 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 LysineOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Synthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
Learn more about Synthetic WaxTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about Tocopherol
