What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientDiethylhexyl Carbonate
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingC13-15 Alkane
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Alumina
Abrasive
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Oxide
AbsorbentPropylene Carbonate
SolventZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Isododecane, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Isohexadecane, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Sodium Chloride, C13-15 Alkane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Silica, Alumina, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Oxide, Propylene Carbonate, Zinc Stearate, Boron Nitride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Dimethicone
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentTocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Wax, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disteardimonium 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 HectoriteSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol 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
