What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Powder
Palmitic Acid
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingOleth-10
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Parfum
MaskingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantSimethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantSaccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water
MaskingOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Oryza Sativa Powder, Palmitic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, Sorbitol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Oleth-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Caramel, Simethicone, Propylene Glycol, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingHydrogenated Rapeseed Oil
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningRice Ferment Lees
HumectantHydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientGlycosphingolipids
EmollientCitrus Junos Extract
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
EmollientMomordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningIsomerized Safflower Acid
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lysolecithin
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientAmmonium Polyacrylate
StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientArginine
MaskingCitric Acid
BufferingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil, Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Rice Ferment Lees, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Glycosphingolipids, Citrus Junos Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Isomerized Safflower Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lysolecithin, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Ammonium Polyacrylate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Arginine, Citric Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Titanium Dioxide, Caramel, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Parfum
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 GlycolWe don't have a description for Caramel yet.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Dimethicone 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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Propanediol 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 PropanediolWe don't have a description for Sodium Polyacrylate Starch yet.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTitanium 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 DioxideTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinWater. 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