What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTropolone
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cholesterol
Emollient
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingWater
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantUltramarines
Iron Oxides
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isododecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Phytosphingosine, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Tropolone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cholesterol, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Water, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide, CI 15850, Ultramarines, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polybutene
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Methyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Alcohol Denat., Polybutene, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Glucose, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Panthenol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77492, Mica, CI 77491, CI 73360, CI 77007, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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
