What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Magnesium Silicate
Propanediol
Solvent
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningHesperidin Methyl Chalcone
Antioxidant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSteareth-20
CleansingSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Bacillus
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betula Alba Bark Extract
Masking
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Iron Oxides
Water, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Propanediol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caffeine, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Acetyl Glutamine, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Steareth-20, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Dipeptide-2, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Butylene Glycol, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Tin Oxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl 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 GlycolHexylene Glycol is a multitasker ingredient that works as a solvent, humectant, emulsifier, viscosity reducer, and preservative booster.
It is able to dissolve both water and oil-soluble ingredients to stabilize tricky actives and make products spread more easily.
As a humectant, it pulls water into the skin. But it's a pretty minor moisturizing ingredient compared to other humectants, like glycerin.
Interestingly, it can act as a mild penetration enhancer. One in vitro study on human skin found a 12% concentration upped the absorption of mometasone furoate (a medicinal ingredient used to treat inflammatory skin conditions) up to 7%.
This ingredient is typically used at levels of 0.1-10% depending on the role it's playing.
A patch test study on eczema patients didn't find a significant increase in irritation versus the control group, but the potential for irritation rises at higher concentrations.
Learn more about Hexylene GlycolMagnesium Aluminum Silicate is a type of silica. It comes from naturally occuring minerals such as silicate ores and clay.
Magnesium aluminum silicate is used for enhancing texture and as an absorbent. Due to its large molecular size, it is unable to be absorbed into the skin.
Like other types of silica, this ingredient can be used to thicken a product. As an absorbent, it may be used to absorb extra water or help prevent clumping.
Although “aluminum” in an ingredient name can raise red flags for some consumers, the form and usage context matter significantly. For typical topical applications, there is no substantial evidence of health risks - such as cancer, neurotoxicity, or systemic “aluminum overload.”
Learn more about Magnesium Aluminum SilicatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterThis 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
