What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantTalc
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCellulose
Absorbent
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
CI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77400
Cosmetic ColorantMica, Talc, CI 77891, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, CI 77163, CI 77491, CI 77742, Zinc Stearate, CI 77492, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Sorbic Acid, CI 77499, Magnesium Stearate, Cellulose, Boron Nitride, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, CI 77007, Tin Oxide, CI 77400
CI 77947
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCellulose
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Oryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientMica
Cosmetic ColorantC10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Undecane
EmollientCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantC18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningTridecane
Perfuming
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Silica
Abrasive
CI 77742
Cosmetic ColorantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycogen
HumectantOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Stearoyl Glutamic Acid
CleansingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Trihydroxystearin
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Chloride
AstringentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin Protecting
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
CI 77947, CI 77163, C13-15 Alkane, Cellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Heptyl Undecylenate, Mica, C10-18 Triglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Lauroyl Lysine, Undecane, CI 77491, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Tridecane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Silica, CI 77742, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycogen, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Stearoyl Glutamic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Trihydroxystearin, Calcium Chloride, Tocopherol, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Plankton Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideCellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. It is used as an emulsifier, absorbent, and texture enhancer.
This ingredient has many functions:
Fun fact: Cellulose is the most abundant form of organic polymer on Earth.
Learn more about CelluloseCI 77163 is the color-index name for Bismuth Oxychloride, a lab-made white powder that acts as a pearl pigment.
It's what gives a lot of pressed powders, eyeshadows, highlighteres, and mineral foundations that soft pearly glow.
Due to its structure as flat, plate-like crystals that stack like tiles, it feels silky and sticks to skin well. This also makes it very chemically stable and insoluble under normal skin conditions (this just means it sits on top of skin rather than going into it).
It has an interesting quirk: it slowly goes gray in sunlight and the graying is partly reversible in the dark.
At this time, there's no legal cap on how much a brand can use. Both the FDA and the EU permit it without restriction so real-world concentration levels come down to formulation:
Allergy risk is low as well since it's insoluble and doesn't release free metal ions into skin. True allergic contact dermatitis to it is rare enough that there's very little published cases.
However, mineral makeup users do report itching or stinging. The leading explanation for this is irritation from those stiff platelet crystals rubbing on skin (also more likely with heavy, high-percentage loose mineral powders) rather than an immune reaction.
This ingredient shows up on a lot of "pore-clogging" lists but there's no real evidence behind that. It doesn't even have a comedogenic rating from an actual study; the numbers you'll find online come from blogs citing other blogs.
Some people still find it breaks them out. So if that's you, definitely trust your skin.
Learn more about CI 77163Ci 77491 is also hydrated iron III oxide. It's sole purpose is to give a red/pink hue to products.
Iron III oxides are classified as inorganic chemicals for coloring.
Synthetically created Ci 77491 is considered safer than those naturally found. This is because the synthetically created version may contain less impurities. Iron oxides are generally non-toxic and non-allergenic.
Learn more about CI 77491This ingredient is used to add a violet color to cosmetics.
It is created by reacting phosphoric acid, ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate, and manganese dioxide.
Mica 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 MicaSilica, 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 Silica
