What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Talc
Abrasive
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Isohexadecane
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientHexyl Laurate
Emollient
Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Alumina
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Methicone
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Talc, Caprylyl Methicone, Isohexadecane, Isododecane, Hexyl Laurate, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Microcrystalline Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Silica, Methicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caffeine, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dextrin Isostearate
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Xylose
HumectantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Triheptanoin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, C13-15 Alkane, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dextrin Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Triethylhexanoin, Lactobacillus, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Xylose, CI 77891, 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.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 SilicaTocopherol 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 TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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
