What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasivePolyglyceryl-10 Decaisostearate
EmollientSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientIris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingPolyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingSodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantLecithin
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPropylene Carbonate
SolventPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract
Skin ProtectingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientParfum
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantIsostearic Acid
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Pentylene Glycol, Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Decaisostearate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Benzoate, Propylene Carbonate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Parfum, Tocopherol, Isostearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningJasminum Grandiflorum Stem Extract
Camellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientDextrin Isostearate
Skin ConditioningStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Chlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantMagnesium Aspartate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventAlumina
AbrasiveLysine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Saccharide Isomerate
HumectantTin Oxide
AbrasiveCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Jasminum Grandiflorum Stem Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Dextrin Isostearate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Propanediol, Alumina, Lysine, Magnesium Chloride, Saccharide Isomerate, Tin Oxide, Copper Gluconate, Tocopherol, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, Mica
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 HydroxideCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateSilica, 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 SilicaStearalkonium Hectorite is a clay-derived ingredient used to thicken a product and help create a gel-like texture.
Tocopherol 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 TocopherolThis 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