What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Titanium Dioxide 7.6%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 8%
Cosmetic Colorant
Alumina
Abrasive
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogen Dimethicone
Iron Oxides
Isododecane
EmollientJojoba Esters
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide 7.6%, Zinc Oxide 8%, Alumina, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Iron Oxides, Isododecane, Jojoba Esters, Methyl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Octyldodecanol, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Chloride, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Water
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Homosalate, Octyldodecanol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Lauryl Glucoside, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Decyl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Cellulose Gum, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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 WaterThis 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
