What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Phytantriol
HumectantMethicone
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Lysine
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Potassium Chloride
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Zinc Chloride
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Dextrin Palmitate, Zinc Oxide, Palmitic Acid, Boron Nitride, Glycerin, Phytantriol, Methicone, Octyldodecanol, Lysine, Hexylene Glycol, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Zinc Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Citrus Junos Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningMethicone
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Mica, Boron Nitride, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Junos Peel Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Methicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trihydroxystearin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Boron Nitride is compound consisting of boron and nitrogen. It is used to absorb oil and modify adherence/ slip in products.
This means it is often used in makeup products to help them last longer.
Butylene 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 GlycolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethicone is a type of silicone and is a simpler form of dimethicone.
Silicones are used to enhance the texture of products and have emollient properties. Methicone is used to give products a silky texture and improves spreadability.
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone is a modified version of dimethicone with emulsifying properties. It helps add a silky and lightweight feel to products like sunscreens and foundations.
Its unique structure allows it to bridge the gap between water-loving and oil-loving ingredients. This makes it especially good at creating stable, velvety, and elegant formulations.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Phenyl Trimethicone is a silicon-based polymer. It is derived from silica.
Phenyl Trimethicone is used as an emollient and prevents products from foaming.
As an emollient, it helps trap moisture in the skin. It is considered an occlusive.
Learn more about Phenyl TrimethiconeChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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
