What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientIsoeicosane
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBoron Nitride
AbsorbentPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingHexyl Laurate
EmollientAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTriethyl Citrate
MaskingMethylparaben
PreservativeC9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Isoeicosane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Boron Nitride, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Hexyl Laurate, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Methylparaben, C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate, Tocopherol, Panthenol, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialHexyl Laurate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningButyloctyl Salicylate
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventIsododecane
EmollientLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPolymethyl Methacrylate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningGold
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPrunus Serrulata Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOnsen-Sui
Water, Zinc Oxide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hexyl Laurate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Methylpropanediol, Isododecane, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77492, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Pentylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77491, Aluminum Hydroxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77499, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Gold, Butylene Glycol, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Onsen-Sui
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty 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 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 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 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 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisteardimonium 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 HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinHexyl Laurate isn't fungal acne safe.
Isododecane 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 IsododecaneTocopherol 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