What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Tapioca Starch
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Water
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Decylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Extract
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Linalool
Perfuming
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVegetable Oil
Skin Conditioning
Usnea Barbata Extract
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantMica, Silica, Tapioca Starch, Zea Mays Starch, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Lauroyl Lysine, Alumina, Boron Nitride, Kaolin, Water, Benzyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Decylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Linalool, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Vegetable Oil, Usnea Barbata Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, CI 77163, CI 77742, CI 77007, Iron Oxides, CI 19140
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is a white powder used as a thickener, absorbent, and abrasive.
As an absorbent, alumina can give a mattifying effect. It is used in mineral sunscreens to help coat nano-sized filters, such as titanium dioxide. By increasing the size of the UV filters, these ingredients stay on the skin for a longer time. By coating small sized ingredients, alumina helps thicken a product.
Alumina may be used as an abrasive, or exfoliant.
Alumina is naturally occurring in the mineral corundum. Certain varieties of corundum create rubies and sapphires. Corundum is also the crystalline form of alumina.
Learn more about AluminaThis ingredient is used to add a violet color to cosmetics.
It is created by reacting phosphoric acid, ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate, and manganese dioxide.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Silica, 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 SilicaTocopherol 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 Tocopherol
