What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolycyclopentadiene
Tribehenin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Propylene Carbonate
SolventParfum
Masking
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Isododecane, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polycyclopentadiene, Tribehenin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium EDTA, Propylene Carbonate, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPEG/PPG-15/15 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningErythritol
Humectant
Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Silica, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, PEG/PPG-15/15 Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Diisostearyl Malate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Erythritol, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This 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 DimethiconeCi 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 77891Disteardimonium Hectorite comes from the clay mineral named hectorite. It is used to add thickness to a product.
It can also help stabilize a product by helping to disperse other ingredients.
Hectorite is a rare, white clay mineral.
Learn more about Disteardimonium HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinIsododecane 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolThis silica is mainly used to thicken oils and suspend particles in oils. It is not water soluble.
According to the manufacturer, it:
The manufacturer also claims this ingredient to be useful in makeup.
In lipstick formulations, this ingredient improves color payoff, reduces pigment settling, and reduces oil bleeding. This ingredient also improves the grip of powder products such as dry shampoos.
Learn more about Silica Dimethyl SilylateWater. 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
