What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Gellan Gum
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Alginate
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolymethylsilsesquioxane
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Diamond Powder
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Silica, Alcohol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, CI 77891, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Gellan Gum, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Calcium Alginate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, CI 77491, Tin Oxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, BHT, Diamond Powder, Tocopherol
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
Humectant
Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Avium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Pullulan
Inositol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltose
MaskingXylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Water, Mica, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., PEG-150 Distearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate, Diglycerin, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Prunus Avium Flower Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Sorbitol, Pullulan, Inositol, Betaine, Carbomer, Maltose, Xylitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Pvp, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Vegetable Amino Acids, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Tin Oxide, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholCi 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 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 77891Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
Water. 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
