What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Propylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingCyclodextrin
AbsorbentPolydextrose
HumectantResveratrol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Cyclodextrin, Polydextrose, Resveratrol, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolypropylene
Silica
Abrasive
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTribehenin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Propylene Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polypropylene, Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Laureth-7, Tribehenin, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Chlorphenesin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTADisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
This 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 CarbonatePropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSilica, 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 SilicaTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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 TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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
