What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCalamine
AbsorbentPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Sulfate
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogen Dimethicone
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientCetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Sesquioleate
EmulsifyingFructooligosaccharides
HumectantSaccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantPullulan
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientAdenosine
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantEchium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLolium Perenne Leaf Extract
PerfumingHelianthus Annuus Flower
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Caprate
EmulsifyingAluminum Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingAlumina
AbrasiveSucrose Stearate
EmollientSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientParfum
MaskingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Dimethicone, Propanediol, CI 77891, Phenyl Trimethicone, Calamine, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Pullulan, Ethylhexylglycerin, Octyldodecanol, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lolium Perenne Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Flower, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tocopherol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Aluminum Stearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Alumina, Sucrose Stearate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate, Squalane, Parfum
Helichrysum Italicum Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientHomosalate
Skin ConditioningSilica
AbrasiveTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantEthylhexyl Salicylate
UV AbsorberAlcohol
AntimicrobialDipropylene Glycol
HumectantLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV FilterC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin ConditioningAbronia Villosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPsidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientCinchona Succirubra Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRhodiola Rosea Root Extract
EmollientRosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientMagnesium Sulfate
Stearic Acid
CleansingQuaternium-18 Bentonite
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativePolyhydroxystearic Acid
EmulsifyingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientIsostearic Acid
CleansingLecithin
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
EmulsifyingVp/Hexadecene Copolymer
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
MaskingHelichrysum Italicum Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Homosalate, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Methicone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cinchona Succirubra Bark Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Quaternium-18 Bentonite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aluminum Hydroxide is a form of aluminum. It can be naturally found in nature as the mineral gibbsite. In cosmetics, Aluminum Hydroxide is used as a colorant, pH adjuster, and absorbent.
As a colorant, Aluminum Hydroxide may add opacity, or reduce the transparency. Aluminum hydroxide is contains both basic and acidic properties.
According to manufacturers, this ingredient is an emollient and humectant. This means it helps hydrate the skin.
In medicine, this ingredient is used to help relieve heartburn and help heal ulcers.
There is currently no credible scientific evidence linking aluminum hydroxide in cosmetics to increased cancer risk.
Major health organizations allow the use of aluminum hydroxide in personal care products and have not flagged it as a carcinogenic risk at typical usage levels.
Learn more about Aluminum HydroxideButylene 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 GlycolC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is a lightweight emollient made by combinig benzoic acid with fatty alcohols that are 12-15 carbons long.
In cosmetics, it plays several roles:
The Cosmetic Review Expert Panel has concluded the alkyl benzoate group to be safe as used in cosmetics; it wasn't found to be a skin irritant and unlikely to be absorbed due to its low water solubility.
This report recorded almost 1000 reported uses with concentrations up to 59% in leave-on products but your cosmetics will typically use 0.5-15% depending on the product.
It's often called a "SPF booster": this is because it keeps UV filters properly dissolved and evenly distributed to support a sunscreen's performance. It doesn't actually raise SPF on its own.
Overall, this ingredient is well tolerated.
This ingredient is fungal acne safe because it is an ester of benzoic acid.
Think of this ingredient as two parts stuck together: an oily part and an acid part. Malassezia only gets a meal when it can snip off a fatty acid to eat. With C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, the acid part is benzoic acid, which isn't a fatty acid and which the yeast can't use as food.
Benzoic acid is actually used as a preservative to stop yeast from growing.
The oily part is a blend of C12-15 fatty alcohols but fatty alcohols in this size range can support only a little Malassezia growth (mostly for one species of Malassezia as well).
In the ingredient, those alcohols stay locked inside the molecule. The yeast can only reach them by snipping the benzoate bond, and that type of bond is harder for it to cut than a normal fatty bond.
So not much gets released. And whatever does get snipped comes packaged with benzoic acid, which discourages yeast growth.
Learn more about C12-15 Alkyl BenzoateCyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a lightweight silicone that mostly acts as an emollient and solvent in cosmetics. Its the reason your products feel silky, fast-spreading, and non-greasy.
Since D5 is volatile, it does its thing and then evaporates off the skin quickly.
The safety profile of this ingredient is reassuring; the US CIR Expert Panel concluded D5 is safe as used in cosmetics and Health Canada concluded that D5 is not harmful to human health or the environment as currently used in cosmetics
There's a study that people mention about D5 in a rat study showing tumors. This study is related to long-term inhalation of high D5 levels.
Regulatory bodies have judged this study to be not applicable in topical skincare since skin absorption of D5 is very low and we're not really inhaling huge amounts of D5.
The only restriction for this ingredient is environmental. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted D5 in wash-off cosmetics at or above 0.1% due to their persistence in water.
Learn more about CyclopentasiloxaneDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinMagnesium Sulfate is a salt. More specifically, it is an epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.
Despite having āsulfateā in the name, it isnāt a surfactant or cleansing agent like sodium lauryl sulfate. Unlike those sulfates, magnesium sulfate doesnāt have the same cleansing or foaming properties (it's simply a type of salt).
In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.
One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.
You can find this ingredient in sea water or mineral deposits.
Learn more about Magnesium SulfateParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPolyhydroxystearic 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 AcidStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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