What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Talc
AbrasiveMica
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientNylon-12
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSilica
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientTin Oxide
AbrasiveCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantTalc, Mica, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isononyl Isononanoate, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, CI 77491, CI 19140, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Titanium Dioxide, CI 75470, CI 16035, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77742, CI 77510
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTalc
AbrasiveZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantBoron Nitride
AbsorbentNylon-12
Silica
AbrasiveOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Cellulose
AbsorbentPolyethylene
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPCA Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMagnesium Myristate
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasiveAcrylates Copolymer
Isododecane
EmollientCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Nylon-12, Silica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Cellulose, Polyethylene, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77742, Iron Oxides, CI 19140, PCA Dimethicone, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Myristate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tin Oxide, Acrylates Copolymer, Isododecane, CI 77163, CI 77891, CI 75470, CI 77007, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hexylene Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate is a bulking agent. It is considered a borosilicate glass; it is composed of powder or flakes of calcium and sodium borosilicates.
This ingredient is used to add volume, shine, and color to products. You'll most likely find this ingredient in makeup products.
According to in-vivo and ex-vivo studies done by a manufacturer, this ingredient works well with UV filters:
Learn more about Calcium Sodium BorosilicateCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Ci 75470 is a bright-red pigment. It is AKA carmine.
Carmine is derived from insects such as the cochineal beetle. This ingredient has been used as a natural dye for over 2000 years.
This ingredient is used to add a violet color to cosmetics.
It is created by reacting phosphoric acid, ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate, and manganese dioxide.
Ci 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 77891Ethylhexyl Palmitate, also known as octyl palmitate, is created from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and palmitic acid. It is a fatty acid ester.
The fatty acid content of Ethylhexyl Palmitate makes it an emollient. Emollients help soften and hydrate your skin by trapping moisture within.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate is also used to help improve the texture of cosmetics. It helps other ingredient dissolve in products and help disperse ingredients more evenly.
You'll likely find this ingredient in sunscreen, as it is often used to mix UV-blocking ingredients such as avobenzone and ethylhexyl triazone.
It can also help stabilize the fragrances in a product as a fragrance fixative.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate can be used to substitute mineral oil.
Due to its high fatty acid content, it may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl PalmitateMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaNylon-12 is a polymer. It is derived from 12-aminododecanoic acid, an omega-amino fatty acid
According to a manufacturer, it is a talc substitute. Like talc, nylon-12 gives products a satin feel. The manufacturer also claims this ingredients does not block pores and has moderate oil absorption.
This ingredient may not be reef-safe.
Learn more about Nylon-12Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate is created from stearic acid.
It is an emollient and thickens the lipid (oil) portion of a product. Due to its emollient properties, it may not be fungal-acne safe.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTalc 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 TalcTin 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.
Titanium 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 DioxideZinc Stearate is the metal salt of stearic acid. It is a white solid used to bind, thicken, and lubricate products.
This ingredient is common in powder makeup, where it helps keep the powder together.
Zinc Stearate is hydrophobic and repels water.
This ingredient can be sourced from non-animal or animal sources. It is best to reach out to the brand to see where they source this ingredient from.
Learn more about Zinc StearateThis 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.