What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lycopodium Clavatum Extract
Skin ConditioningImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Gellan Gum
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Cellulose
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningIron Oxides
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantMica, Silica, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Gellan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Cellulose, Tocopherol, Water, Iron Oxides, CI 19140
Zinc Laurate
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Phytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Enterococcus Faecalis
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Zinc Laurate, Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Silica, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Enterococcus Faecalis, Butylene Glycol, Water, Hydroxyapatite, Zinc Oxide, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol
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 EthylhexylglycerinMica 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 MicaSilica, 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 SilicaJojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure.
Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight.
Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as an emollient. This just means it forms a light barrier on the skin to help retain moisture.
Formulations with jojoba esters up to 90% reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and increased barrier recovery by 81% (outperforming bisabolol at 47%).
Besides barrier support, the science also suggests jojoba to have anti-inflammatory effects and potential applications for skin infections, aging, and wound healing.
Fun fact: Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.
Fungal acne: The Malassezia yeast is known to metabolize fatty acids in the C11-24 range and jojoba's dominant fatty acid components fall into this range. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
