What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5.5%
UV AbsorberTitanium Dioxide 3.1%
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 1%
Cosmetic ColorantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantMica
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialAlumina
AbrasiveCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethiconol
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingEthylene Brassylate
MaskingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrogen Dimethicone
Lecithin
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningMethicone
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Sodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTrehalose
HumectantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Triethyl Citrate
MaskingUrea
BufferingZingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingCitral
PerfumingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 5.5%, Titanium Dioxide 3.1%, Zinc Oxide 1%, Cyclohexasiloxane, Water, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Glycerin, Mica, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alcohol Denat., Alumina, Caprylyl Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Ethylene Brassylate, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Lecithin, Magnesium Sulfate, Maris Sal, Methicone, Niacinamide, Polyquaternium-51, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Carrageenan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trehalose, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Triethyl Citrate, Urea, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Citral, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77163, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlycerin
HumectantLecithin
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPullulan
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveTetrasodium EDTA
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeIron Oxides
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caffeine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glycerin, Lecithin, Mica, Pullulan, Sclerotium Gum, Silica, Tetrasodium EDTA, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Caprylyl 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 or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.
Learn more about CyclohexasiloxaneCyclopentasiloxane, or D5, is a silicone used to improve texture of products and trap moisture.
D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.
It is also an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.
Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone 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 HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinMica 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 MicaNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePeg-10 Dimethicone is silicone with conditioner and emulsifier properties. It mostly acts as an emollient in skincare and and humectant in haircare.
According to the manufacturer, acidic formulations decrease the stability of this ingredient. It works best in neutral or near neutral formulations.
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.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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