What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
SurfactantButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingLentinus Edodes Extract
Skin ConditioningSparassis Crispa Extract
Emulsion StabilisingTrametes Versicolor Extract
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
AntioxidantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPoly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Methicone, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Synthetic Beeswax, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Cyclohexasiloxane, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Mica, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Propylene Carbonate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantIsododecane
EmollientDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsoamyl Laurate
EmollientLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingTrisiloxane
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Sulfate
Ceramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide As
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantLeucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingOrnithine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingPhenylalanine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningHistidine
HumectantEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Acrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Quaternium-90 Bentonite
Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentPistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
Cleansing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Isoamyl Laurate, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Alcohol Denat., Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Trisiloxane, Magnesium Sulfate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Leucine, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Arginine, Ornithine, Taurine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Histidine, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Fructooligosaccharides, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosphingosine, Beta-Glucan, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Acrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Pullulan, Maltodextrin, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
This polymer has film-forming properties and helps leave behind a soft film on the skin with oxygen permeability.
That's why you'll most likely find this in sunscreen formulations.
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 GlycolCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPThis ingredient is a silicone-based emulsifer that helps the water and oil phases play nicely together.
It's pretty 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 DimethiconeCi 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.
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone is a silicone. It has a high refractive index and adds shine to formulations.
According to the safety review by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, it is safe for use in cosmetics under the current practices and concentrations.
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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (long name, huh?) is a synthetic antioxidant.
It is used to help stabilize other antioxidants or prevent the color from changing in a product.
As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Thus, antioxidants may reduce the signs of aging.
This ingredient is oil-soluble.
Learn more about Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamatePhytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosineTriethoxycaprylylsilane 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