What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDiphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Parfum
MaskingPropylene Carbonate
SolventTocopherol
AntioxidantTribehenin
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
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 ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantC13-16 Isoparaffin
SolventDimethicone
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingIsododecane
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Tin Oxide
AbrasiveCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingLactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantViscum Album Leaf Extract
SoothingImperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
AntioxidantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Niacinamide, Isododecane, Zinc Oxide, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Silica, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Tin Oxide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Tocopherol, Viscum Album Leaf Extract, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Leaf Extract, 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 HydroxideButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty 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 DimethiconeDimethicone 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 GlycerinIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTocopherol 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 TocopherolTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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