What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientBoron Nitride
AbsorbentPolypropylsilsesquioxane
Squalane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
EmulsifyingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingAluminum Hydroxide
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingBisabolol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantPolysilicone-11
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Lactate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Glycerin, Isododecane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Acrylates/Polytrimethylsiloxymethacrylate Copolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aluminum Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
SurfactantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingDioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningKigelia Africana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Giganteum Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces/Panax Ginseng Flower Ferment Extract
AntioxidantEscin
TonicMagnesium Sulfate
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPropanediol
SolventTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Stearic Acid
CleansingAlumina
AbrasiveDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, CI 77891, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, CI 77492, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Equisetum Giganteum Extract, Saccharomyces/Panax Ginseng Flower Ferment Extract, Escin, Magnesium Sulfate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Propanediol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that 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. Just 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.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCi 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491CI 77492 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a yellow hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created CI 77492 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77492Ci 77499 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It is created from mixing red and black iron oxides. This helps give shades of darkness to a product.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Ci 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 77891Dimethicone 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 GlycerinPhenyl Trimethicone is a silicon-based polymer. It is derived from silica.
Phenyl Trimethicone is used as an emollient and prevents products from foaming.
As an emollient, it helps trap moisture in the skin. It is considered an occlusive.
Learn more about Phenyl TrimethiconeWater. 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