What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Tridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tribehenin
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Alumina
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Pentylene Glycol, Mica, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Tribehenin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
Isododecane
EmollientEthyl Oleate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Betaine
Humectant
Empetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Propylene Carbonate
SolventTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylyl Methicone, Zinc Oxide, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Isododecane, Ethyl Oleate, Butylene Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Betaine, Empetrum Nigrum Fruit Juice, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Propanediol, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Potassium Sorbate, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCi 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 IsododecaneMagnesium 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 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.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane 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
