What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
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
Silica
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Methicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methicone, Water, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateMethicone 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.
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
