What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Nylon-12
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate
Emulsifying
PEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPolysilicone-2
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantDistearyldimonium Chloride
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone, Water, Glycerin, Nylon-12, Butylene Glycol, Paraffin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, PEG-400, Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Polysilicone-2, Cera Microcristallina, CI 77120, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Alumina, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77163, Iron Oxides, Mica, CI 77891
Dimethicone
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentTocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Wax, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Alternatives
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 DimethiconeSilica, 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 SilicaTocopherol 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 TocopherolThis 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
