What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydrogenated Polybutene
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin ConditioningDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientTriisostearyl Citrate
EmollientCera Microcristallina
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
AbrasiveZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentJojoba Esters
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningPrunus Avium Seed Oil
EmollientRosa Canina Seed Oil
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientAcacia Decurrens Flower Wax
EmollientPolyglycerin-3
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCI 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
Octyldodecanol
EmollientPolyethylene
AbrasiveHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientKaolin
AbrasiveNylon-12
Paraffin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil comes from the seeds of the safflower plant. It is a skin conditioning agent that helps soften skin and keep it hydrated.
This seed oil has an unusual fatty acid profile: it is one of the highest linoleic acid plant oils out there (~55-77%). It also has low amounts of oleic acid, and this high-linoleic/low-oleic ratio gets people excited.
Linoleic acid helps maintain skin barrier integrity and is a building block for the ceramides in your stratum corneum. Notably, people with acne tend to have lower linoleic acid in their skin lipids as well (and this gets worse as acne gets more severe).
Overall, it's a lightweight, fast-absorbing oil that has a long safety track record. Lab testing has found it to be non-irritating for skin or eyes.
The Malassezia yeast can metabolize the fatty acids in this oil to grow; therefore this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Carthamus Tinctorius Seed OilCi 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 77891Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinTocopheryl 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