What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Diphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingTropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Alumina
Abrasive
Magnesium Oxide
AbsorbentKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningMethicone
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Iron Oxides
Water, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Diphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Propanediol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Silica, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Sodium Chloride, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Magnesium Oxide, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Methicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningCoconut Alkanes
Emollient
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSilica
Abrasive
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentOpuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Propylene Carbonate
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingIron Oxides
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Coconut Alkanes, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Silica, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Corn Starch Modified, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopherol, Propylene Carbonate, Squalane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Iron Oxides, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 DimethiconeThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
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 SilicaChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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 WaterThis ingredient is a combination of red, black, and yellow iron oxide pigments. This combination of colors is usually found in foundation, because it results in a "skin" color.
The EU typically uses CI numbers for colorants when applicable, such as CI 77489. In the US, iron oxides are regulated as color additives and "iron oxides" is the most commonly used name in US cosmetic practice.
A 2021 paper looked at skincare formulations containing iron oxides and found that they reduced transmission of blue light when measured optically. In simple terms, the pigment particles helped block or scatter part of the visible light spectrum in lab testing and the authors suggest this could translate into better protection against blue-light-related skin effects.
There is also clinical and experimental research showing that tinted products containing iron oxides can reduce visible light-induced pigmentation:
Please note, whether a product reduces visible or blue light depends on things like:
In the EU's CosIng database, iron oxides are only listed as a colorant. CosIng groups ingredients by their main cosmetic role, such as colorant, preservative, or UV filter.
Though studies say iron oxides can "attenuate blue light", they're describing an optical property and not an officially recognized cosmetic function.
So CosIng isn’t contradicting the research. It’s just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
