What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclomethicone
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberMica
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingTalc
AbrasiveVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningMethicone
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientPolyester-1
Stearic Acid
CleansingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclomethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Mica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, CI 77891, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77007, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 77492, Magnesium Sulfate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Talc, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Trihydroxystearin, Methicone, Palmitic Acid, Polyester-1, Stearic Acid, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Eugenol, Limonene, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate
EmollientHeptyl Undecylenate
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterPolyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberEthylhexyl Triazone
UV AbsorberJojoba Esters
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant2,3-Butanediol
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientMagnesium Potassium Fluorosilicate
AbrasiveMagnesium Sulfate
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingParfum
MaskingPolyglycerin-6
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPropylene Carbonate
SolventCitrus Reticulata Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantFarnesol
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dicaprylyl Ether, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Silica, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Jojoba Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 2,3-Butanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Magnesium Potassium Fluorosilicate, Magnesium Sulfate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Parfum, Polyglycerin-6, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Carbonate, Citrus Reticulata Extract, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Farnesol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 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 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 SulfateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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