What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
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
Talc
Abrasive
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Nylon-12
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantSalicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rice Bran/Germ Triterpenoids
Skin ConditioningBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningSesame Amino Acids
HumectantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrogen Dimethicone
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Talc, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrated Silica, Nylon-12, Diisostearyl Malate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Salicylic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, CI 77492, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Water, CI 77491, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Rice Bran/Germ Triterpenoids, Bioflavonoids, Sesame Amino Acids, CI 77499, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane
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 Starch Octenylsuccinate is a synthetic powder used as an absorbent, thickener, and anti-caking agent.
As an absorbent, it is great at mattifying skin by soaking up the oil. This is why you'll find it in a range of products from makeup to moisturizers.
This ingredient is considered a modified starch. Starch can also be found naturally in plants.
One study from 1991 found that 5% of this ingredient enhanced titanium dioxide SPF by as much as 40%. The study found 1% titanium dioxide had a 5.6 SPF and adding 5% of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate boosted it to an SPF of 8.1
Although āaluminumā in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic āaluminum overload.ā
Learn more about Aluminum Starch OctenylsuccinateButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Squalane is the hydrogenated and shelf-stable form of squalene (a lipid that naturally occurs in human sebum).
It is an emollient and skin conditioning agent that is able to integrate seamlessly into the skin's lipid barrier without clogging pores.
This is due to how structurally similar it is to what your skin already produces.
Though it is mostly an emollient that helps soften and hydrate skin, it also has some humectant and occlusive action. Humectants help the skin retain moisture while occlusives seal it in, making squalane a triple-threat moisturizer.
Research shows it has antioxidant capabilities that help protect against stressors like UV exposure, specifically UVA induced oxidative stress. This study also found that it supports collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts.
No clinical study has reported significant adverse effects and irritation reactions are very rare from this ingredient (even at 100% concentration).
Overall, it's a fantastic ingredient for hydration and is suitable for all skin types.
This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Though squalane is often called an oil, itās technically not one. It is a hydrocarbon, meaning it is only made of carbon and hydrogen. True oils are triglycerides and made of fatty acids and glycerol.
The term āoil-freeā isnāt regulated so companies can define it however they want. Some exclude all oils, while others just avoid mineral oil or comedogenic oils.
Squalane has a comedogenic rating of 1 from the original 1972 study that tested raw ingredients under occlusion on rabbit ears. This system is not standardized or peer-reviewed, and using the raw ingredients is very different from how diluted cosmetic formulations are used on human skin.
A comedogenic rating of 1 means it is "unlikely to clog pores" according to the original rating system.
The overall formula of a product matters more than the individual ingredients on whether or not it will cause clogged pores.
Learn more about SqualaneWater. 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
