What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Isododecane
EmollientAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polypropylsilsesquioxane
Magnesium Sulfate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Alumina
Abrasive
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantPolybutene
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolyethylene
Abrasive
Isotridecyl Isononanoate
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPropylene Carbonate
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater, CI 77891, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Butylene Glycol, Trisiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Magnesium Sulfate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Silica, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Hydroxyacetophenone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Octyldodecanol, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Mica, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Propylene Carbonate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone
Emollient
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer
Tribehenin
Emollient
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Carbonate
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Disodium Deceth-6 Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium PCA
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Laureth-30
CleansingSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Trehalose
Humectant
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Triacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Isododecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Talc, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Tribehenin, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Laureth-7, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Trihydroxystearin, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Deceth-6 Sulfosuccinate, Sodium PCA, Urea, Laureth-30, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Trehalose, Hexylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, Caprylyl Glycol, Triacetin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThis 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 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Disteardimonium 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 HectoriteGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsododecane 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 IsododecaneMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having ‘sulfate’ in the name, it isn’t a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesn’t have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfateThis ingredient is a solvent. It helps dissolve active ingredients and alter the texture of products.
Propylene Carbonate is commonly used in makeup and with clay, such as montmorillonite or bentonite.
Studies show this ingredient to be safe for cosmetics. When it is undiluted, it can cause skin irritation. (It is always diluted in skincare and makeup). This ingredient is water-soluble.
Propylene Carbonate is created from propylene glycol and carbonic acid.
Learn more about Propylene CarbonateSodium 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 HyaluronateThis 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
