What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
EmulsifyingZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMagnesium Sulfate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSorbitol
HumectantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Tocopherol
AntioxidantSilica Silylate
EmollientSodium Stearate
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCeteareth-20
CleansingCalcium Chloride
AstringentAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Zea Mays Starch, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Sulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tocopherol, Silica Silylate, Sodium Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ceteareth-20, Calcium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxide, Mica, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingOctyldodecanol
EmollientOlus Oil
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Palmitate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylate-13
Sorbitan Palmitate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingParfum
MaskingPolyisobutene
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Sorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingSaccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Seed Oil
HumectantCandida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasiveLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingGeraniol
PerfumingHydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
EmulsifyingCitronellol
PerfumingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeRibes Nigrum Bud Oil
PerfumingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Octyldodecanol, Olus Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Mica, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Sorbitan Palmitate, Tocopherol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Parfum, Polyisobutene, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Sorbitan Oleate, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tin Oxide, Linalool, Limonene, Lactobacillus, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Geraniol, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Citronellol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Ribes Nigrum Bud Oil, Biotin, CI 77891, CI 77491
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491Ci 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 77891Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
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 GlycerinMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteTocopherol 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 TocopherolWater. 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