What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Silica
Abrasive
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMethicone
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantEthylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMineral Salts
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica, Corn Starch Modified, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77891, Methicone, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tin Oxide, Water, CI 77491, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Mineral Salts, Mica, Butylene Glycol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantKaolin
Abrasive
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Polypropylene
Squalane
Emollient
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningMineral Salts
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Arvensis Extract
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Acetic Acid
BufferingMica, Kaolin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Silica, Polypropylene, Squalane, Polyethylene, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Dimethicone, Methicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Water, Mineral Salts, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Disodium EDTA, Acetic Acid
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
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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinMethicone is a type of silicone and is a simpler form of dimethicone.
Silicones are used to enhance the texture of products and have emollient properties. Methicone is used to give products a silky texture and improves spreadability.
Mica 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 MicaMineral Salts are salt (like the kind we eat) that contains minerals such as calcium or magnesium. Depending on the product, salt in skincare can be an abrasive, thickener, or preservative.
This ingredient may dry out the skin.
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 SilicaWater. 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
