What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Trimethyl Pentaphenyl Trisiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propionic Acid
Preservative
Polyisobutene
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Ethylcellulose
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Octyldecanol
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Oxidized Corn Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tremella Fuciformis Fruiting Body Extract
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cymbidium Grandiflorum Root Extract
HumectantThamnolia Vermicularis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSparassis Crispa Extract
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
CI 16255
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Phenyl Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Trimethyl Pentaphenyl Trisiloxane, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Propionic Acid, Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Sucrose, Ethylcellulose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Octyldecanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Oxidized Corn Oil, Bisabolol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Tremella Fuciformis Fruiting Body Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cymbidium Grandiflorum Root Extract, Thamnolia Vermicularis Leaf Extract, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Laureth-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Polysorbate 60, Tocopherol, Sodium Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, CI 16255, CI 15985, CI 19140, CI 45410, CI 17200, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxyphenyl Dimethicone
Polyphenylsilsesquioxane
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceteareth-20
CleansingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxyphenyl Dimethicone, Polyphenylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceteareth-20, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, CI 15985, CI 17200, CI 19140, CI 45410, CI 42090, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
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
Ci 15985 is a dye made from petroleum. It is synthetically created and approved by the FDA for use in foods and cosmetics.
The color of this dye is orange/yellow.
This ingredient can be found in makeup, sun care, and skincare.
Learn more about CI 15985CI 17200 is a synthetic, water-soluble, reddish-pink dye. It is used purely as a cosmetic colorant.
In the US, the FDA permits this ingredient in cosmetics but it is not approved for use around the eyes while the EU allows this to be used in all cosmetic products.
The FDA requires batch-to-batch certification for this ingredient that is held to a pretty rigorous standard. That means the CI 17200 in your cosmetics has been tested and approved before it ever reaches you.
Contact allergy to cosmetic-grade dyes used at low concentrations are uncommon but has been documented before.
This ingredient also goes by the name D&C RED NO. 33.
CI 17200 has a comedogenic rating of 1 and an irritancy rating of 2 on a scale of 0-5. This is based on peer-reviewed research from the man who invented the comedogenic scale.
A 1 on the comedogenic scale is about as low as it gets without being a flat zero, and makes sense for CI 17200.
It's a water-soluble dye used at very small concentrations (typically 0.001-0.1%), so it dissolves into the water phase of a formula rather than sitting on your skin the way an oil or wax would.
The irritancy rating of 2 reflects that, like most synthetic dyes, there's a small possibility of mild irritation ( particularly for people with existing dye sensitivities).
For the vast majority of people, it's a non-issue at typical use levels.
It's also worth keeping in mind that comedogenic and irritancy ratings are tested on individual ingredients, not finished formulas. The final product's formulation, concentration, and other ingredients all play a role in how something actually behaves on your skin.
Just so you know, the FDA ban on Red Dye No. 3 refers to CI 45430, not this ingredient. CI 45430 and CI 17200 are different chemical compounds with distinct safety and regulatory histories.
It's also worth noting that Red No. 3 (CI 45430) was already banned from cosmetics back in 1990, so the 2025 action just extended the ban to food and oral drugs. CI 17200 was never part of any of this.
Learn more about CI 17200CI 19140 is also known as Tartrazine. Tartrazine is a synthetic dye used in cosmetics, foods, and medicine to add a yellow color.
Tartrazine is created from petroleum and is water-soluble.
Some people may experience allergies from this dye, especially asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
Learn more about CI 19140Ci 42090 is a synthetic dye created from petroleum. It is used to give a bright blue color to cosmetics, medicine, and food.
CI 45410 is a synthetic red-pigment and dye.
It often goes by both Red 28 or Red 27; manufacturers label both ingredients as CI 45410.
This dye is commonly found in makeup because it imparts a vivid color. Some types of this dye change color based on pH level and interaction with moisture:
Your skin has a natural pH of around 4.5 - 5.5.
According to the FDA, CI 45410 is not permitted for use in eye products.
Red 27 is a flourescein dye and commonly used as a fluorescent tracer in medicine.
Learn more about CI 45410Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. 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
