What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventOctyldodecanol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Menthyl Lactate
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
HumectantMenthone Glycerin Acetal
RefreshingLecithin
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTin Oxide
AbrasiveVaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant2,3-Butanediol
HumectantGlycereth-26
HumectantSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingCurcuma Longa Root Oil
PerfumingCurcumin
AntioxidantLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantIsohexadecane
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, 2,3-Butanediol, Glycereth-26, Squalane, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Oil, Curcumin, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isohexadecane, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 80, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, CI 77891, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum
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.
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 preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMica 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 MicaWater. 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