What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
C13-15 Alkane
SolventOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantEuphorbia Cerifera Wax
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Glyceryl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Squalane
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tourmaline
Quartz
Abrasive
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract
MaskingJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract
AstringentEugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract
Perfuming
Orchis Mascula Flower Extract
SoothingAmyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, C13-15 Alkane, Octyldodecanol, Mica, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Glyceryl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Squalane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Tourmaline, Quartz, Rose Extract, Kaolin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract, Orchis Mascula Flower Extract, Amyl Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantPhenyl Trimethicone, Silica, Dimethicone, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Isononyl Isononanoate, Mica, Cera Microcristallina, Sorbitan Olivate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Synthetic Wax, Octyldodecanol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, CI 77742
Alternatives
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 MicaOctyldodecanol 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.
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 SilicaThis 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
