What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Silica
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Methicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Methicone, Water, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA
Talc
Abrasive
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Silica
Abrasive
Hdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Calamine
AbsorbentHouttuynia Cordata Powder
Skin ConditioningCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingTalc, Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Silica, Hdi/PPG/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, CI 77491, Methicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, CI 77492, Parfum, Calamine, Houttuynia Cordata Powder, CI 77499, Water, Butylene Glycol, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
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
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateWe don't have a description for Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract yet.
Methicone is a type of silicone and is a simpler form of dimethicone.
Silicones are used to enhance the texture of products and have emollient properties. Methicone is used to give products a silky texture and improves spreadability.
Silica, 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 SilicaWater. 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
