What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTalc
Abrasive
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantNylon-12
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Magnesium Sulfate
Alumina
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Propylene Carbonate
SolventPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sargassum Pacificum Thallus Extract
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Extensin
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingHydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Glycerin, Isododecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Talc, Alcohol Denat., Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Nylon-12, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Alumina, Silica, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Niacinamide, Sargassum Pacificum Thallus Extract, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Extensin, Glycine Soja Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Zinc Oxide 15%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
C15-19 Alkane
SolventIsocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Tribehenin
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingViola Tricolor Extract
EmollientBisabolol
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide 15%, Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, C15-19 Alkane, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Jojoba Esters, Tribehenin, Beeswax, Glyceryl Stearate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Lactobacillus, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Viola Tricolor Extract, Bisabolol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Mica
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a crosslinked version of sodium hyaluronate. This just means it's linked into a 3D mesh network that lets it be more stable and sit on skin as a cohesive, gel-like film rather than sinking into skin.
A 2016 human skin study found crosslinked HA increased epidermal water content by 7.6% over the control group and reduced transepidermal water loss by 27.8%.
A follow-up clinical trial found that a topical crosslinked HA serum applied after fillers, microneedling, or chemical peels was well-tolerated and enhanced skin quality at 14 / 28 days.
More recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.03% can act as a penetration enhancer for other skincare actives.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterThis 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
