What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Glycerin
Humectant
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Stearalkonium Bentonite
Gel FormingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Carbonate
SolventTocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Methicone
Emollient
Pantolactone
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Sodium Chloride, Tri (Polyglyceryl-3/Lauryl) Hydrogenated Trilinoleate, Silica, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Mica, Propylene Carbonate, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Methicone, Pantolactone, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
PPG-13
Skin ConditioningAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Ethylene Brassylate
MaskingPolyethylene
Abrasive
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Talc, PPG-13, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Pvp, Laureth-7, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Synthetic Beeswax, Trihydroxystearin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Silica, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Ethylene Brassylate, Polyethylene, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, CI 77891, 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.
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is a synthetic powder used as an absorbent, thickener, and anti-caking agent.
As an absorbent, it is great at mattifying skin by soaking up the oil. This is why you'll find it in a range of products from makeup to moisturizers.
This ingredient is considered a modified starch. Starch can also be found naturally in plants.
One study from 1991 found that 5% of this ingredient enhanced titanium dioxide SPF by as much as 40%. The study found 1% titanium dioxide had a 5.6 SPF and adding 5% of aluminum starch octenylsuccinate boosted it to an SPF of 8.1
Although āaluminumā 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 āaluminum overload.ā
Learn more about Aluminum Starch OctenylsuccinateThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeCi 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 77891Silica, 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 SilicaChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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 isnāt contradicting the research. Itās just classifying iron oxides by what they officially are: pigments that add color.
Learn more about Iron Oxides
