What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingIsododecane
EmollientSilica Silylate
Emollient
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingQuaternium-90 Bentonite
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propylene Carbonate
SolventHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polyisobutene, Water, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Silica, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Isododecane, Silica Silylate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Carbonate, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Flour
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate
CleansingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Carbonate
SolventAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Polyglucuronic Acid
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Isododecane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Flour, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Carbonate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Silica, Polyglucuronic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum 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 HydroxideButylene 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecanePhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateSilica, 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 SilicaChances 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 ChlorideWater. 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
