What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantKaolin
Abrasive
Silica
Abrasive
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Cellulose
Absorbent
Squalane
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMagnesium Myristate
Glyceryl Caprylate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methicone
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Iron Oxides
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantMica, Kaolin, Silica, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Cellulose, Squalane, Synthetic Wax, Lauroyl Lysine, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trihydroxystearin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Magnesium Myristate, Glyceryl Caprylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Iron Oxides, CI 77007, CI 15850, CI 19140
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantKaolin
Abrasive
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Tapioca Starch
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Calcium Silicate
AbsorbentDimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic Colorant
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.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
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeKaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.
Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.
Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.
The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.
Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.
Learn more about KaolinMica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add shimmer and color in cosmetics. It can also help improve the texture of a product or give it an opaque, white/silver color.
Serecite is the name for very fine but ragged grains of mica.
This ingredient is often coated with metal oxides like titanium dioxide. Trace amounts of heavy metals may be found in mica, but these metals are not harmful in our personal products.
Mica has been used since prehistoric times throughout the world. Ancient Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Roman, Aztec, and Chinese civilizations have used mica.
Learn more about MicaThis 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
