What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Talc
Abrasive
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Nylon-12
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Gardenia Taitensis Flower
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Aroma
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTalc, Zea Mays Starch, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Mica, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Nylon-12, Hexylene Glycol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Lauroyl Lysine, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Gardenia Taitensis Flower, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Aroma, CI 15850, CI 19140, Iron Oxides, CI 77742, CI 77891
Talc
Abrasive
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Nylon-12
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Undecylenoyl Glycine
CleansingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Resinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantTalc, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Nylon-12, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Capryloyl Glycine, Coco-Caprylate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, CI 77120, Calcium Resinate, Tocopherol, CI 15850, Iron Oxides, CI 77007
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 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 ingredient comes from a fatty acid (lauric acid) and amino acid (lysine). It is used to add a silky feel to cosmetics.
According to a manufacturer, its fatty acid base leaves a silky feeling on the skin. It also has emollient properties because of this. Emollients help soften skin by preventing water from evaporating.
Lauroyl lysine is barely soluble in water.
Learn more about Lauroyl LysineNylon-12 is a polymer. It is derived from 12-aminododecanoic acid, an omega-amino fatty acid
According to a manufacturer, it is a talc substitute. Like talc, nylon-12 gives products a satin feel. The manufacturer also claims this ingredients does not block pores and has moderate oil absorption.
This ingredient may not be reef-safe.
Learn more about Nylon-12Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate is an emollient ester that mostly shows up in color cosmetics.
Functionally, it works as a skin-conditioning agent and a viscosity-increasing agent. This just means it helps soften skin while also thickening water-free formulas (like powders).
Despite being a "stearate", it has a lightweight, cushiony, and non-greasy slip.
This ingredient has shown no adverse effects in testing and is deemed safe in cosmetics at current use levels.
Typical concentrations range from 0.7-23%.
Because it is made of C-18 fatty acids (like stearic acid), this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Octyldodecyl Stearoyl StearateTalc 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 TalcTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolZinc Stearate is the metal salt of stearic acid. It is a white solid used to bind, thicken, and lubricate products.
This ingredient is common in powder makeup, where it helps keep the powder together.
Zinc Stearate is hydrophobic and repels water.
This ingredient can be sourced from non-animal or animal sources. It is best to reach out to the brand to see where they source this ingredient from.
Learn more about Zinc StearateThis 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
