What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyphenylsilsesquioxane
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientLauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Chloride
MaskingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientParfum
MaskingTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Propylene Carbonate
SolventCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantBHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSoluble Collagen
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAcetyl Heptapeptide-4
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetyl Octapeptide-3
HumectantWater, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, CI 77891, Methyl Trimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polyphenylsilsesquioxane, Diisostearyl Malate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Silica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, CI 77492, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Parfum, Trihydroxystearin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylyl Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77491, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Carbonate, CI 77499, BHT, Tocopherol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingChamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingTribehenin
EmollientGlyceryl Behenate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
AntioxidantKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Titanium Dioxide, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Niacinamide, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Magnesium Sulfate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Behenate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Panthenol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Parfum
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 polymer has film-forming properties and helps leave behind a soft film on the skin with oxygen permeability.
That's why you'll most likely find this in sunscreen formulations.
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 HydroxideButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl 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 or alcohol, 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 77891Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone is a silicone. It has a high refractive index and adds shine to formulations.
According to the safety review by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, it is safe for use in cosmetics under the current practices and concentrations.
Disteardimonium 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 HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan (basically a long sugar chain) that your skin already makes on its own. In your skin, HA lives in the extracellular matrix and acts as the body's moisture reservoir.
Topically, HA is a humectant that binds water and helps skin look more plump, smooth, and hydrated.
The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.
The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.
A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidParfum 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 ParfumSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate is a type of Hyaluronic Acid.
Hyaluronic Acids help moisturize, soothe, and protect the skin.
Read about common types of Hyaluronic Acid here:
Learn more about Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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 TriethoxycaprylylsilaneThis 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