What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Polyisobutene
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Styrene/Methylstyrene/Indene Copolymer
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientC9-12 Alkane
SolventHydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
C15-19 Alkane
SolventBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Cera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhytosteryl Oleate
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyltrimethylsiloxysilicate Crosspolymer
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Polyisobutene, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Hydrogenated Styrene/Methylstyrene/Indene Copolymer, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, C9-12 Alkane, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Wax, C15-19 Alkane, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Cera Microcristallina, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phytosteryl Oleate, Dimethicone/Vinyltrimethylsiloxysilicate Crosspolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isostearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tribehenin
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Mica, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Silica, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Diisostearyl Malate, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tribehenin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides, CI 77288, CI 77007, CI 42090
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 HydroxideCi 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disteardimonium 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 HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidTocopherol 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 TocopherolThis 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
