What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Erythritol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Nylon-12
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Magnesium Sulfate
Polysilicone-11
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventParfum
Masking
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Erythritol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Nylon-12, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Magnesium Sulfate, Polysilicone-11, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Carbonate, Parfum, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Laureth-12, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77007, CI 15850
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Magnesium Sulfate
Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate
Emulsifying
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin Protecting
Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil
Skin Protecting
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Opuntia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Glycerin, Dibutyl Adipate, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Squalane, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Dimethicone, Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Diamond Powder, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Opuntia Vulgaris Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Synthetic Beeswax, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tin Oxide, Glycine Soja Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Amyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisteardimonium 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 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.
When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.
Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.
If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about PolymethylsilsesquioxaneSodium 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 HyaluronateTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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
