What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCellulose
Absorbent
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientKaolin
Abrasive
Magnesium Myristate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSynthetic Fluorphlogopite, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Mica, CI 77007, Cellulose, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Kaolin, Magnesium Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lauroyl Lysine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Calcium Sodium Borosilicate
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDiphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Raspberry Ketone
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPolyethylene, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Zea Mays Starch, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Diphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Parfum, Dimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, Raspberry Ketone, Water, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, CI 77492
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDimethicone 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 DimethiconeHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneThis ingredient comes as a powder made up of small, porous, microbeads. It is used to add a silky feel to products and also helps absorb oil.
Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteWater. 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
