What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDiamond Powder
Abrasive
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Ruby Powder
Skin ConditioningAmethyst Powder
Abrasive
Pearl Powder
Tourmaline
Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningJasminum Officinale Extract
Masking
Platinum Powder
Abrasive
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Mannan
Squalane
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Talc
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Mica, PEG-10 Dimethicone, CI 77891, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Diamond Powder, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ruby Powder, Amethyst Powder, Pearl Powder, Tourmaline, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Extract, Platinum Powder, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Magnesium Sulfate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Adenosine, Mannan, Squalane, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Talc, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Titanium Dioxide 4%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 14%
Cosmetic Colorant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Diisopropyl Adipate
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningArginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Silanetriol
Hydrolyzed Pearl
Skin ConditioningLavandula Spica Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide 4%, Zinc Oxide 14%, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Diisopropyl Adipate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Silica, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Water, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Silanetriol, Hydrolyzed Pearl, Lavandula Spica Flower Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium PCA, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tin Oxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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
