What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sargassum Pacificum Thallus Extract
EmollientGardenia Taitensis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingBrassica Rapa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Water, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sargassum Pacificum Thallus Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Brassica Rapa Root Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyglutamic Acid, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Methicone
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Polysilicone-11
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Squalane
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Mica, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Pvp, PEG-10 Dimethicone, CI 77120, Sodium Chloride, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Methicone, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Polysilicone-11, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together. It's so effective because one end of the molecule loves oil and the other one loves water.
Besides holding formulas together, it also leaves a silky and lightweight feel on skin without the greasiness. A manufacturer also claims it can help with the controlled release of active ingredients.
The CIR Expert Panel found this ingredient to not be sensitizing in concentrations up to 15% in human maximazation testing and dimethicone-based compounds were not comedogenic.
It has a high molecular weight well above 1,000 g/mol which means it limits meaningful skin penetration.
A 2019 study specifically tested this ingredient and found no observable Malassezia growth in its presence.
Learn more about Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeDimethicone 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 HectoritePhenoxyethanol 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.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane 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 TriethoxycaprylylsilaneWater. 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
