What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polybutene
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientTriisostearyl Citrate
EmollientCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Avium Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Hydrogenated Polybutene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Diisostearyl Malate, Triisostearyl Citrate, Cera Microcristallina, Silica, Zea Mays Starch, Jojoba Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Mica, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Prunus Avium Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone
Emollient
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Isostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantPhenyl Trimethicone, Silica, Dimethicone, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Isononyl Isononanoate, Mica, Cera Microcristallina, Sorbitan Olivate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Synthetic Wax, Octyldodecanol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, CI 77742
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolCera Microcristallina, aka microcrystalline wax, is a petroleum-derived wax that helps thicken texture and stabilize the oils in formulas.
It also has mild occlusive properties that creates a film on skin to slow down water loss.
The CIR Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
This ingredient is refined to a cosmetic grade with high purity. It is chemically inert, stable, and doesn't clog pores (petroleum has a comedogenic rating of 0).
Malassezia feeds on fatty acids roughly in the C11-24 range and this ingredient contains none of those. Since there's no plausible food source for it here, this ingredient is fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cera MicrocristallinaEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinMica 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 MicaPolyhydroxystearic Acid is a vegetable-derived soft wax made from castor oil. It's an emulsion stabilizer, thickener, and film former.
You'll likely see it in sunscreens because it helps disperse pigments and UV-reflecting minerals like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide evenly.
Depending on the concentration, it can drastically change the texture of a product from pasty solid (like lipstick) to sprayable liquid.
The CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety has concluded this ingredient to be safe in cosmetics. The highest reported use concentration is 14.2% in lipsticks.
Learn more about Polyhydroxystearic AcidSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateThis 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
