What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium PCA
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium PCA, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Isododecane
EmollientTalc
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Propylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Isododecane, Talc, Mica, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Trihydroxystearin, Polyethylene, Triethylhexanoin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, CI 77891, CI 77163, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 77891Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
