What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Talc
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Alumina
Abrasive
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantTalc
Abrasive
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Myristate
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantTalc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Magnesium Myristate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Hexylene Glycol, Silica, Maltodextrin, Tin Oxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Water, Iron Oxides, CI 77742, CI 77891, CI 75470, CI 15850, CI 77007
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCi 15850 is the pigment color red. It is an azo dye and created synthetically.
Azo dyes need to be thoroughly purified before use. This allows them to be more stable and longer-lasting.
This ingredient is common in foundations, lipsticks, and blushes. This color is described as brown/orangey red.
It has many secondary names such as Red 6 and Red 7. According to a manufacturer, Red 6 usually contains aluminum.
Learn more about CI 15850This pigment is called Ultramarine blue lazurite. It gives a saturated blue color, but can be used to create other colors as well.
According to the manufacturer, it is usually made from kaolin, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sulfur, and charcoal.
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate is created from stearic acid.
It is an emollient and thickens the lipid (oil) portion of a product. Due to its emollient properties, it may not be fungal-acne safe.
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 SilicaTalc is a clay mineral. It helps absorb moisture and improve the texture of products. Like other types of clay, Talc can have a slight exfoliating effect on skin. Talc can be added to increase the volume of products.
Some Baby powders are made by combining talc with corn starch. The word "talc" comes from Latin and originates from Arabic. Talc is a mineral commonly found throughout the world.
If you have any concerns about using talc, we recommend checking out the FDA's official page.
Learn more about TalcThis 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
