What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Houttuynia Cordata Water
MaskingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventDibutyl Adipate
EmollientDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingMagnesium Sulfate
Panthenol
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingLactococcus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentPanax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantAlumina
AbrasivePolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Water, Titanium Dioxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Dibutyl Adipate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Mica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ectoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Lactococcus Ferment, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, CI 77492, Alumina, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 77491, CI 77499, Water
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane
EmollientDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientOctyldodecanol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Oil
AntioxidantHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Rugosa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Alumina
AbrasivePolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
EmollientAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, CI 77891, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propanediol, CI 77492, Isododecane, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Niacinamide, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Haematococcus Pluvialis Oil, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Rosa Rugosa Flower Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Propolis Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Cetearyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Astaxanthin, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, CI 77491, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.
The way it works is fairly well mapped out:
Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.
The clinical backing is pretty solid too.
A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.
A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.
On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.
This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.
Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.
Learn more about AdenosineAlumina (aka aluminum oxide) is an inorganic mineral powder refined from bauxite that works as a quiet workhorse in a formula.
It shows up often as an abrasive, absorbent, anticaking, bulking, and viscosity-controlling agent.
One of its most common jobs is acting as a pigment carrier and dispersant.
Alumina platelets are often blended with inorganic sunscreens like Titanium Dioxide (or with colorants) and then coated with a silicone such as Triethoxycaprylylsilane so the pigment spreads evenly and smoothly.
In makeup, it can also double as a light-diffusing powder or oil absorber to keep formulas from looking greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded alumina to be safe in present practices of use and concentration.
They note it's a stable, oxidized compound and scientific research has failed to establish links to health issues.
Concentrations vary depending on the product:
Learn more about AluminaAluminum 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 HydroxideCi 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 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 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 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone is a silicone. It has a high refractive index and adds shine to formulations.
According to the safety review by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, it is safe for use in cosmetics under the current practices and concentrations.
Glycerin (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 SulfateNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePolyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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