What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Talc
Abrasive
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentAmmonium Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Tribehenin
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propylene Carbonate
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium Deceth-6 Sulfosuccinate
CleansingAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingLaureth-30
CleansingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Cyclopentasiloxane, Water, Butylene Glycol, Talc, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Magnesium Sulfate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Tribehenin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Lecithin, Laureth-7, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phenoxyethanol, Trihydroxystearin, Chlorphenesin, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Deceth-6 Sulfosuccinate, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Laureth-30, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Talc
Abrasive
Tribehenin
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trimethoxycaprylylsilane
SmoothingIron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Talc, Tribehenin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alcohol Denat., Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Trimethoxycaprylylsilane, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note:
People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.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 GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeCi 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 77891Cyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDisteardimonium 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 HectoritePhenoxyethanol 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.
Talc is a clay mineral. It helps absorb moisture and improve the texture of products. Like other types of clay, Talc can have a slight exfoliating effect on skin. Talc can be added to increase the volume of products.
Some Baby powders are made by combining talc with corn starch. The word "talc" comes from Latin and originates from Arabic. Talc is a mineral commonly found throughout the world.
If you have any concerns about using talc, we recommend checking out the FDA's official page.
Learn more about TalcTribehenin comes from glycerin and behenic acid.
It is used as an emollient, or moisturizer. Emollients form a thin barrier on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about TribeheninTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
