What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingHydrolyzed Wheat Gluten
MoisturisingBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Disodium EDTA
Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Ozokerite, Sorbitan Isostearate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Chlorphenesin, Bisabolol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten, Boron Nitride, Disodium EDTA, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Disteardimonium Hectorite
Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventHydrogen Dimethicone
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Iron Oxides
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane, Water, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Magnesium Sulfate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Tribehenin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Propylene Carbonate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phytosphingosine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Mica
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 GlycolCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisteardimonium 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 HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinMagnesium 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 SulfatePEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone is a modified version of dimethicone with emulsifying properties. It helps add a silky and lightweight feel to products like sunscreens and foundations.
Its unique structure allows it to bridge the gap between water-loving and oil-loving ingredients. This makes it especially good at creating stable, velvety, and elegant formulations.
This silicone is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on the skin to prevent moisture from escaping.
It is not soluble in water and helps increase water-resistance in products.
According to a manufacturer, it can blend seamlessly with silicone oils, such as Cyclopentasiloxane.
Learn more about TrimethylsiloxysilicateWater. 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
