What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Methicone
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Palmitate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Synthetic Wax, Silica, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Zinc Oxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Methicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caffeine, Cyclodextrin, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Magnesium Silicate
AbsorbentBentonite
Absorbent
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalene
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Magnesium Silicate, Bentonite, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Glycerin, Squalene, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Triheptanoin, Isododecane, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclomethicone, Sodium Chloride, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 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.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
