What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Dibenzoate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSilica
AbrasiveTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBetaine
HumectantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Stearic Acid
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
BHT
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCI 77492
Cosmetic Colorant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Zinc Oxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Betaine, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Allantoin, Caffeine, CI 77491, CI 77499, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 77492, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
SurfactantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Magnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientAlumina
AbrasiveCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPEG-8
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Alcohol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingIsostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylyl Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, CI 77891, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77492, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Squalane, Alumina, CI 77499, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-8, Panthenol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Whey Protein
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 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.
Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneThis ingredient is a silicone elastomer that works as a texture enhancer, adds a silky slip, and also helps absorb excess oil.
Because it's a large macromolecule that's insoluble in water and chemically inert, it's not expected to penetrate or be absorbed into skin.
Human patch tests with a facial lotion containing 1% of this ingredient found no sensitization.
Learn more about Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTADisteardimonium 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 GlycerinMagnesium 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 one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPhenyl 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 TrimethiconeTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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