What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialIron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, C13-15 Alkane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Mica, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil, Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glycerin, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Propanediol, Propylene Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Magnesium Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyapatite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Zinc Oxide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Talc
Abrasive
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBehenyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alumina
Abrasive
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Simethicone
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isododecane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Talc, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Behenyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Phenoxyethanol, Alumina, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Simethicone, Disodium EDTA, Aluminum Hydroxide, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Tropolone, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Glucose, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77891, CI 77492, 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.
Aluminum 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 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 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 77891Disteardimonium 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 HectoriteThis ingredient is also known as Octinoxate and is one of the oldest and most widely used chemical UV filters in skincare.
It has a simple job: soap up UVB radiation (290-320 nm), the wavelengths responsible for sunburn and a big chunk of long-term sun damage.
In formulas, it's always paired with a separate UVA filter because octinoxate solely protects skin from UVB.
Because it's an oil-soluble liquid, it's easy to blend into the oil phase of lotions/creams and gives a cosmetically elegant feel.
The one quirk about formulating this ingredient is photostability; the molecule slowly changes shape into a less effective version when sunlight hits it. So the longer you're in the sun, the weaker its protection gets. The drop can be more than 30% in some formulas.
It also doesn't play nice with Avobenzone (the common UVA filter) since avobenzone destabilizes octinoxate and the two degrade each other. But don't worry: brands have solved this issue by adding photostabilizers like Tinosorb S to prevent degradation and keep SPF stable under heavy UV exposure.
The maximum allowed level is 10% in the EU and Australia, 7.5% in the US and Canada, and 20% in Japan.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics up to 10%.
One last thing worth knowing for context:
Octinoxate has been the subject of ongoing review in Europe where the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety's (SCCS) 2025 final opinion is that this ingredient is an endocrine-active substance.
Lab and animal studies suggest it can act a bit like a hormone in the body (mildly mimicking estrogen and slightly blocking male hormones). It's important to know this hasn't really been shown to happen in everyday human use.
This ingredient is also banned in Hawaii over coral reef concerns.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate is a plant-derived, PEG-free emulsifier.
It's made by hooking isostearic acid onto a chain of glycerin units to give it a water-loving "head" and oil-loving "tail". This allows it to keep the oil and water mixed in a formula.
The highest reported concentration is about 24% in eye makeup but most suppliers recommend a level below 10%.
It has a clean track record for safety and found to be non-irritating.
Because it is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, Malassezia can potentially metabolize it (it sits in the C11-24 range that Malassezia likes). Therefore, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-4 IsostearateWater. 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
