What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantLysine
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
CI 77002
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Lysine, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Bark/Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Caffeine, CI 77002, CI 77891, Iron Oxides
Titanium Dioxide 7.9%
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide 6.7%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract
MaskingSea Water
HumectantSorbitol
Humectant
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Algin
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingSucrose
Humectant
Darutoside
Skin ConditioningPantolactone
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Alumina
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Iron Oxides
Titanium Dioxide 7.9%, Zinc Oxide 6.7%, Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Glycerin, Panthenol, Mica, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Sea Water, Sorbitol, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Betaine, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Sucrose, Darutoside, Pantolactone, Tocopherol, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer. Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is an emollient and texture enhancer.
In one study, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene showed better skin hydration levels than Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. As an emollient, it helps keep your skin soft and hydrated by trapping moisture in.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is often used as a mineral oil replacement.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterThis 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
