What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Parfum
Masking
Propylene Carbonate
SolventTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tribehenin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Titanium Dioxide, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylyl Methicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Diisostearyl Malate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Parfum, Propylene Carbonate, Tocopherol, Tribehenin, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Trehalose
Humectant
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Silica
Abrasive
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientHydrogen Dimethicone
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethicone
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Niacinamide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Trehalose, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Allantoin, Zinc Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methicone, Disodium EDTA, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfatePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPhenyl Trimethicone is a silicon-based polymer. It is derived from silica.
Phenyl Trimethicone is used as an emollient and prevents products from foaming.
As an emollient, it helps trap moisture in the skin. It is considered an occlusive.
Learn more about Phenyl TrimethiconeThis ingredient is used in makeup and skincare to thicken formulas, reduce shine, and give skin a silky-smooth feel.
It’s a white silicone powder that sits in fine lines and pores to blur their appearance though its effectiveness depends on the particle size.
You'll typically find this ingredient in amounts between 0.1-20%.
Learn more about Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane CrosspolymerWater. 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
