What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveBoron Nitride
AbsorbentMica
Cosmetic ColorantLauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPolymethyl Methacrylate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAcrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAlumina
AbrasiveAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMethicone
EmollientCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Propanediol
SolventPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, CI 77891, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Trimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Silica, Boron Nitride, Mica, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Diisostearyl Malate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, CI 77492, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Alumina, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77491, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Methicone, CI 77499, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientBoron Nitride
AbsorbentTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPropanediol
SolventPolymethyl Methacrylate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingAlumina
AbrasiveCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingParfum
MaskingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Hydroxystearate
EmollientSimethicone
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Citronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBHT
AntioxidantHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingThymol Trimethoxycinnamate
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeDiamond Powder
AbrasiveXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, CI 77891, Phenyl Trimethicone, Homosalate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Boron Nitride, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Niacinamide, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Propanediol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 77492, Sodium Chloride, Alumina, CI 77163, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polysorbate 80, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Parfum, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 77491, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Simethicone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77499, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Dipropylene Glycol, BHT, Hydroxycitronellal, Thymol Trimethoxycinnamate, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Diamond Powder, Xanthan Gum
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is a white powder used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive.
As an absorbent, alumina can give a mattifying effect. It is used in mineral sunscreens to help coat nano-sized filters, such as titanium dioxide. By increasing the size of the UV filters, these ingredients stay on the skin for a longer time. By coating small sized ingredients, alumina helps thicken a product.
Alumina may be used as an abrasive, or exfoliant.
Alumina is naturally occurring in the mineral corundum. Certain varieties of corundum create rubies and sapphires. Corundum is also the crystalline form of alumina.
Learn more about AluminaAluminum 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 HydroxideBoron Nitride is compound consisting of boron and nitrogen. It is used to absorb oil and modify adherence/ slip in products.
This means it is often used in makeup products to help them last longer.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
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 77891Cyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.
Learn more about CyclohexasiloxaneCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDisodium 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 EDTADisteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin 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 CaprylateHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinPeg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
This ingredient is also known as PMMA. It is a polymer microsphere, composed of tiny, perfectly spherical particles formed from repeating units.
In cosmetics, PMMA is mainly used to give a soft or blurring effect. The transparent particles are able to scatter light and help reduce the appearance of fine-lines and imperfections.
PMMA is also able to enhance the texture of products by add a smooth feel.
Learn more about Polymethyl MethacrylatePolysorbate 80 is a synthetic surfactant and emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid.
It reduces the surface tension between oil and water phases to help them stay mixed and stable in a formulation. In other words, it prevents your formulas from separating into an oily mess.
The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the scientific data and found this ingredient to be safe, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing at concentrations up to 5% (it's even approved by the FDA as an OTC eye drop ingredient).
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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