What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica Dimethicone Silylate
AbsorbentAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientBis-PEG-15 Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Parfum
MaskingAlumina
AbrasiveCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
PEG-2 Soyamine
EmulsifyingSimethicone
EmollientMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, CI 77891, Methyl Trimethicone, Homosalate, Caprylyl Methicone, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, CI 77492, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Silica, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 77491, Mica, Sodium Chloride, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Bis-PEG-15 Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Parfum, Alumina, Caprylyl Glycol, Trihydroxystearin, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77499, Disodium EDTA, PEG-2 Soyamine, Simethicone, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Dipropylene Glycol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Hydroxycitronellal, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Dextrin Palmitate
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingAlumina
AbrasiveOctyldodecanol
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, CI 77891, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Niacinamide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Silica, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Isododecane, Magnesium Sulfate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dextrin Palmitate, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Octyldodecanol, Pentylene Glycol, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Parfum, 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is a white powder used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive.
As an absorbent, alumina can give a mattifying effect. It is used in mineral sunscreens to help coat nano-sized filters, such as titanium dioxide. By increasing the size of the UV filters, these ingredients stay on the skin for a longer time. By coating small sized ingredients, alumina helps thicken a product.
Alumina may be used as an abrasive, or exfoliant.
Alumina is naturally occurring in the mineral corundum. Certain varieties of corundum create rubies and sapphires. Corundum is also the crystalline form of alumina.
Learn more about AluminaAluminum 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 GlycolCi 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.
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 77891Dimethicone 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and used as a surface treatment for pigment particles (like iron oxides or titanium dioxide).
It "wraps" these ingredients in a form of slippery jacket so they disperse more evenly in oils, glide better on skin, and stick longer without smudging.
The “triisostearate” part of this ingredient is an ester derived from isostearic acid, a long-chain fatty acid. Malassezia species are lipid-dependent so they rely on external fats to survive. This is why ingredient is flagged for being potentially fungal-acne unsafe.
Learn more about Isopropyl Titanium TriisostearateMethyl Trimethicone is a type of silicone. It is a solvent and emulsifier.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Methyl Trimethicone does not get absorbed into the skin.
Learn more about Methyl TrimethiconeParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSilica, 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 SilicaStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicon-based surface modifier that makes sunscreens feel silky and makeup stay put.
Its main job is to coat mineral particles like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and color pigments in a thin, oily layer so they spread smoothly, don't clump, and stick to skin better.
This ingredient is typically used at low levels (up to 2.5% in eyeshadow and 1% in lipstick).
Learn more about TriethoxycaprylylsilaneThis silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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