What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientHomosalate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV AbsorberCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Niacinamide
SmoothingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Sulfate
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPropanediol
SolventTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Polysilicone-11
Stearic Acid
CleansingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientAlumina
AbrasiveAdenosine
Skin ConditioningBorago Officinalis Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCentaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
AstringentHyacinthus Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract
CleansingSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicArtemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBackhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
Astringent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingWater, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Homosalate, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Tromethamine, CI 77492, Magnesium Sulfate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Propanediol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polysilicone-11, Stearic Acid, CI 77491, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Alumina, Adenosine, Borago Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Hyacinthus Orientalis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77499, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica Dimethicone Silylate
AbsorbentAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
EmollientVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Bis-PEG-15 Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer
Parfum
MaskingAlumina
AbrasiveCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
CleansingDimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Disodium EDTA
PEG-2 Soyamine
EmulsifyingSimethicone
EmollientMentha Arvensis Leaf Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
PerfumingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantWater, CI 77891, Methyl Trimethicone, Homosalate, Caprylyl Methicone, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Silica, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, CI 77492, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 77491, Mica, Sodium Chloride, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Bis-PEG-15 Dimethicone/Ipdi Copolymer, Parfum, Alumina, Caprylyl Glycol, Trihydroxystearin, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium EDTA, PEG-2 Soyamine, Simethicone, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, CI 77499, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Dipropylene Glycol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Hydroxycitronellal, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol
Reviews
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.
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 preservatives
Alumina is another name for the compound aluminum oxide. It is 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 AluminaAluminum 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 GlycolCi 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.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 HectoriteEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHomosalate is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-B range (280nm - 320 nm), with a peak protection at 306 nm. It is internationally approved for use in sunscreens.
Homosalate is not photo-stable, meaning it's strength as a UV filter degrades over time with exposure to the sun. Because of this, it's often used in combination with other chemical sunscreen filters as avobenzone (which protects from the UV-A range). Homosalate also helps act as a solvent for harder-to-dissolve UV filters.
(Part of the reason that sunscreens need to be frequently re-applied is due to the photo instability of many chemical sunscreen filters)
Currently, homosalate is approved in concentrations up to 10% in the EU and 15% in the US. The FDA is currently doing further research on the effects of homosalate, and it is possible that these approved concentrations will change in the future.
Learn more about HomosalateLauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone is a type of silicone.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumStearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.
As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.
Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.
This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidTitanium dioxide is a mineral UV filter widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
It is one of only two UV filters officially classified as “mineral” by regulatory agencies, the other being zinc oxide.
Titanium dioxide provides broad-spectrum protection mostly in the UVB and UVAII range, with some protection in the UVAI range.
While its UVA protection isn’t as strong as zinc oxide’s, the difference is minor.
A common myth is that mineral UV filters reflect UV light. However, modern research shows titanium dioxide absorbs UV radiation like chemical filters (~95% absorption & 5% reflection).
Thanks to its non-irritating nature, titanium dioxide is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, or redness-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause "eye sting" like other sunscreen ingredients.
A major drawback of this ingredient is its white cast and thick texture. This is why mineral sunscreens often leave a white cast and are less cosmetically elegant than chemical/hybrid sunscreens.
To improve white cast and spreadability, micronized or nano-sized titanium dioxide is often used.
There are ongoing concerns surrounding nano-titanium oxide's impact on marine ecosystems.
There is no conclusive evidence that any form of titanium oxide (or any other sunscreen ingredients) will cause harm to marine ecosystems or coral reefs. The science is still developing but many consumers are keeping a close eye on this issue.
Please note, many destinations have reef-safety sunscreen rules. For instance, the U.S. Virgin Islands advises all visitors to use non-nano mineral sunscreens.
Nano mineral sunscreens once raised safety concerns about absorption into skin.
Extensive research has shown that they do not penetrate healthy or damaged skin; they remain safely on the surface and the top layer of dead skin (stratum corneum).
You'll likely find titanium dioxide bundled with alumina, silica, or dimethicone. These ingredients help make titanium dioxide highly photostable; this prevents it from interacting with other formula components under UV light.
Learn more about Titanium DioxideTriethoxycaprylylsilane is a silicone used to bind and stabilize ingredients.
As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. This can help elongate the shelf life of products.
Triethoxycaprylylsilane is often used to coat mineral sunscreens ingredients to help give a better feel. It also helps reduce oxidative stress in sunscreens.
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water