What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientAcrylates Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Zinc Oxide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Triheptanoin, Glycerin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Methyl Trimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Diisostearyl Malate, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientLauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Honey Extract
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Leptospermum Scoparium Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Water
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAlumina
Abrasive
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCentella Asiatica Extract, CI 77891, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Propanediol, Diisostearyl Malate, Glycerin, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Mica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Honey Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Leptospermum Scoparium Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Water, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glyceryl Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Alumina, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Lactobacillus, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ceramide NP, Madecassoside, Phytosphingosine, Tocopherol, 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.
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 GlycolCaprylyl Methicone is a synthetic and lightweight silicone fluid. It gives products a silky, dry-touch finish without the heaviness of pure oils.
Though the EU CosIng Database lists this ingredient as a skin conditioner, it is also used for sensory reasons. It spreads easily, cuts greasiness, and reduces tackiness.
This ingredient is volatile which means it will mostly evaporate (but it evaporates slower than older cyclomethicones, like Cyclotetrasiloxane).
Typical concentration ranges from 1-30% depending on if it's being used to tweak the feel of a product or acting as the main emollient.
Learn more about Caprylyl MethiconeCi 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.
Diisostearyl Malate is an emollient and most often used in lip products. It comes from isostearyl alcohol, a fatty acid, and malic acid, an AHA.
As an emollient, Diisostearyl Malate helps create a thin film on your skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth.
Disteardimonium 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 GlycerinGlyceryl 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 CaprylateMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfateMethyl 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 TrimethiconePhenyl Trimethicone is a silicon-based polymer. It is derived from silica.
Phenyl Trimethicone is used as an emollient and prevents products from foaming.
As an emollient, it helps trap moisture in the skin. It is considered an occlusive.
Learn more about Phenyl TrimethiconeStearic 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 AcidTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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 TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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
