What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Silicate
AbsorbentShea Butter Ethyl Esters
EmollientNylon-12
Zea Mays Starch
AbsorbentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeTriethoxycaprylylsilane
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
AbrasiveCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Silica
AbrasiveOctyldodecanol
EmollientAluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate
Magnesium Myristate
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientTrimyristin
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
EmulsifyingPolyethylene
AbrasivePolyisobutene
Ethylhexyl Stearate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite, Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Calcium Silicate, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Nylon-12, Zea Mays Starch, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Triacetyl Ricinoleate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007, CI 77742, CI 77891, Tin Oxide, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Magnesium Myristate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Trimyristin, Polysilicone-11, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Polyethylene, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTalc
AbrasiveZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantBoron Nitride
AbsorbentNylon-12
Silica
AbrasiveOctyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbic Acid
PreservativeTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Cellulose
AbsorbentPolyethylene
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantPCA Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningCalcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingMagnesium Myristate
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
AbrasiveAcrylates Copolymer
Isododecane
EmollientCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Nylon-12, Silica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Diisostearyl Malate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Cellulose, Polyethylene, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77742, Iron Oxides, CI 19140, PCA Dimethicone, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Magnesium Myristate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tin Oxide, Acrylates Copolymer, Isododecane, CI 77163, CI 77891, CI 75470, CI 77007, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hexylene Glycol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate is made up of calcium, aluminum, and silicates. It is a glass-like material. In cosmetics, it comes in the form of flakes or microspheres.
Calcium aluminum borosilicate is a bulking agent, meaning it helps thicken a product.
This ingredient is created by slowly mixing several minerals, including kaolin clay.
Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”
Learn more about Calcium Aluminum BorosilicateCalcium Sodium Borosilicate is a bulking agent. It is considered a borosilicate glass; it is composed of powder or flakes of calcium and sodium borosilicates.
This ingredient is used to add volume, shine, and color to products. You'll most likely find this ingredient in makeup products.
According to in-vivo and ex-vivo studies done by a manufacturer, this ingredient works well with UV filters:
Learn more about Calcium Sodium BorosilicateCaprylic/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 TriglycerideCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis pigment is called Ultramarine blue lazurite. It gives a saturated blue color, but can be used to create other colors as well.
According to the manufacturer, it is usually made from kaolin, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sulfur, and charcoal.
This ingredient is used to add a violet color to cosmetics.
It is created by reacting phosphoric acid, ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate, and manganese dioxide.
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 77891We don't have a description for Magnesium Myristate yet.
Mica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaNylon-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 StearatePhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolPolyethylene is a synthetic ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture. It is a polymer.
It is also typically used within product formulations to help bind solid ingredients together and thicken oil-based ingredients. When added to balms and emulsions, it helps increase the melting point temperature.
Silica, 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 SilicaTin 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.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane 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 TriethoxycaprylylsilaneZinc 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 Stearate