What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Vp/Va Copolymer
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Beheneth-30
CleansingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Isostearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearate
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Mica, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Vp/Va Copolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Myristyl Alcohol, Beheneth-30, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Glyceryl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, Silica, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, CI 77891, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningAlumina
Abrasive
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Mannose
HumectantCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingIsohexadecane
Emollient2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Alumina, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isocetyl Stearate, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, CI 77891, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Mannose, Caffeine, Myristyl Myristate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica Silylate, Poloxamer 338, Isohexadecane, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Tin Oxide, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 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 77891Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.
Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.
Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.
Learn more about IsohexadecanePhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic surfactant and emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid.
It reduces the surface tension between oil and water phases to help them stay mixed and stable in a formulation. In other words, it prevents your formulas from separating into an oily mess.
The CIR Expert Panel has evaluated the scientific data and found this ingredient to be safe, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing at concentrations up to 5% (it's even approved by the FDA as an OTC eye drop ingredient).
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is the potassium salt of a mixture. This mixture consists of the esters from phosphoricacid and cetyl alcohol.
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate is an emulsifier and cleansing agent. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
As a cleansing agent, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate helps gather oils, dirts, and pollutants from your skin. This makes it easier to rinse them away with water.
Learn more about Potassium Cetyl PhosphateSilica, 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 SilicaSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSorbitan Oleate is a PEG-free emulsifier made by esterifying sorbitol with oleic acid.
You'll likely see it paired with Polysorbate 80 to create the right emulsification balance.
Typical use levels in formulas range from 2-10%.
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as a cosmetic ingredient.
Since this ingredient is an ester of oleic acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. Oleic acid is a fatty acid that falls into the C11-24 range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Sorbitan OleateTin Oxide is an inorganic oxide used to add opacity and volume to a product. In nature, it is already found in mineral form. The main ore of tin is an opaque and shiny mineral called casseterite.
Tin Oxide helps remove translucency in a product, or make it more opaque. Besides adding opacity, tin oxide is used for bulking to add volume.
Water. 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
