What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Isododecane
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentTrihydroxystearin
Skin ConditioningPolyethylene
AbrasiveTriethylhexanoin
MaskingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene
Dimethicone
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
EmollientOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentTerminalia Arjuna Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingBrassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Germ Extract
EmollientOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingPropylene Carbonate
SolventPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingOleic Acid
EmollientLecithin
EmollientSynthetic Beeswax
Emulsion StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingTocopherol
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantIsododecane, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Trihydroxystearin, Polyethylene, Triethylhexanoin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Dimethicone, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Oryza Sativa Extract, Terminalia Arjuna Bark Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Germ Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Propylene Carbonate, PEG-40 Stearate, Oleic Acid, Lecithin, Synthetic Beeswax, Water, Parfum, Citronellol, Coumarin, Linalool, Tocopherol, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77163, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium PCA
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
EmulsifyingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetyl Dimethicone
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Tocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium PCA, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, 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.
Ci 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.
Ci 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 77891Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate is a plant-derived, oil-soluble emulsifier. It keeps water-in-oil emulsions stable to prevent the ingredients from separating.
On the safety front, it's considered non-irritating and well-tolerated (it can even be found in formulations for baby skin).
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe because research has shown that the Malassezia species can grow in the presence of fatty acid esters with chain lengths above C12 (and this one is C18).
While it does have a comedogenic rating of 4, the comedogenic rating scale was developed from rabbit ear models which has limited clinical relevance to human skin. Studies also show that comedogenic ingredients cannot predict how the overall formula will behave on human skin.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 DiisostearateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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