What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBis-Isobutyl PEG/PPG-10/7/Dimethicone Copolymer
Emulsifying
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Propylene Carbonate
SolventTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Alumina
Abrasive
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Propylene Glycol, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Bis-Isobutyl PEG/PPG-10/7/Dimethicone Copolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethiconol, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, CI 77163, CI 77288, CI 77007
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
C15-19 Alkane
SolventDimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Magnesium Sulfate
Polysilicone-11
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cellulose
Absorbent
Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMica
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
Humectant
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
Solvent
Propylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Isododecane, C13-15 Alkane, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, C15-19 Alkane, Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Betaine, Silica, Magnesium Sulfate, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose, Calluna Vulgaris Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Mica, Glycerin, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopherol, Magnesium Stearate, CI 77491, CI 77891
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 GlycerinIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneMagnesium 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 SulfatePhenoxyethanol 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.
This ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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 TriethoxycaprylylsilaneThis 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
