What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHexyldecyl Myristoyl Methylaminopropionate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
HumectantAcrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantHomosalate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSucrose Distearate
EmollientWater, CI 77891, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Hexyldecyl Myristoyl Methylaminopropionate, Butylene Glycol, CI 77492, Glycerin, Acrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, CI 77491, Magnesium Sulfate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 77499, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Trihydroxystearin, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Panthenol, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Homosalate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose Distearate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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