Infallible Full Wear Concealer

The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.

Undecane is a straight-chain hydrocarbon (an alkane) used as a lightweight, fast-spreading emollient and solvent, often paired with tridecane as a silicone alternative in modern formulas. It has not been reviewed under its own name, but CIR's assessment of the closely related isoparaffin and hydrocarbon solvent group, across a wide concentration range, did not turn up genotoxicity, reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenicity concerns.

A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.

A silicone that gives a smooth, soft feel and helps hold water in the skin. Inert and well studied.

A polyol ester emulsifier that stabilizes water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions with minimal irritation. Like other polyglyceryl esters, it is valued for its mildness and is used across a range of skincare and color cosmetics.

Synthetic fluorphlogopite is a lab-grown mica look-alike made of layered magnesium aluminum silicate sheets with some fluorine substitution, used as a shimmer and pearlescent base in powders, eyeshadow, and skincare. CIR's expert panel reviewed irritation, sensitization, and genotoxicity data and concluded it's safe as used at reported concentrations up to 67%.

Pentylene glycol is a humectant and solvent that also offers mild antimicrobial support in formulas. It is generally well tolerated, with only rare reports of irritation, mostly in already sensitive or compromised skin.

A lightweight humectant and solvent similar in role to propylene glycol, used to carry actives and give lotions a lighter feel. CIR has reviewed it and considers it safe as used in cosmetics.

Tridecane is a straight-chain hydrocarbon (an alkane) almost always used alongside undecane as a light, quick-absorbing emollient and silicone substitute. As with undecane, it has not been reviewed individually, but it sits in the same simple-hydrocarbon family CIR has assessed without flagging genotoxicity, reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenicity concerns across the concentrations tested.

A silicone-based conditioning agent that adds smoothness and soft feel to formulas. Silicones in cosmetics are not absorbed by the skin and rinse cleanly, making them well-tolerated for most users.

Hexyl Laurate is an ester of hexyl alcohol and lauric acid used as a light, fast spreading emollient that gives creams and makeup a silky, non greasy finish. CIR reviewed it within a group of 237 alkyl esters and found low potential for acute toxicity, irritation, and sensitization when products are formulated to be nonirritating.

A mineral salt used in cosmetics as a humectant and antioxidant. It is the same compound used in food and personal care products, and is well tolerated in both rinse-off and leave-on formulations.

A stearic acid derivative used to thicken and stabilize formulations while providing mild emollient properties. Graded low concern with no documented sensitization or safety issues.

A fatty alcohol emollient that softens and conditions skin. The CIR Expert Panel concluded it is safe as used in cosmetics, with this determination originally made in 1985 and reaffirmed in 2006.

A quaternized clay mineral used to thicken and suspend products. CIR found it safe as used, though the mineral base means trace amounts of inhalable silica particles exist if the powder form is aerosolized. It is well tolerated in leave-on and rinse-off cosmetics when formulated properly.

An amino acid derived emulsifier made from stearic acid and glutamic acid that is increasingly used in natural and clean formulations. It is mild, biodegradable, and presents no known safety concerns for cosmetic use.

A plant-based thickener derived from cellulose that creates smooth, gel-like textures in formulas. One of the most studied and best-tolerated thickeners in cosmetics, used in shampoos, face masks, and leave-on products for decades.

A glycerin derivative used as a skin conditioner and preservative booster, often paired with phenoxyethanol to allow lower total preservative levels. It has a low irritation and sensitization profile in safety reviews.

Silica silylate is silica surface-treated with trimethylsilyl groups so it feels silkier and disperses better into oil-based formulas; it works as an anti-caking and viscosity-control agent in pressed powders, foundations, and other makeup. CIR reviewed it in the same assessment as silica dimethyl silylate and trimethylsiloxysilicate and concluded it's safe as used, with the same caveat that the finished product should be formulated not to irritate the eyes or respiratory tract.

An undisclosed scent blend that can contain dozens of components. The single most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy, and the blend is not itemized, so you cannot see what is in it.

Trihydroxystearin is a wax like triester made by hydrogenating castor oil, used as a fine powder that thickens formulas and gives pressed powders, lipsticks, and creams a smoother glide. CIR's safety review found no skin irritation in clinical testing and no mutagenicity in Ames testing, though the raw ingredient was a mild eye irritant in animal testing, and concluded it is safe as used up to 5%.

An inert mineral powder used as a filler and white base for color cosmetics. It is not the same as the antiperspirant aluminum compounds that trigger health concerns. Well tolerated and FDA-approved for cosmetic use.

A jasmine-like fragrance compound frequently used in soaps and lotions. It is one of the 26 EU-designated fragrance allergens, though studies suggest its sensitization potency is comparatively low relative to other listed allergens.

Benzyl salicylate is a fragrance fixative that also absorbs some UV light. It is on the EU allergen disclosure list, but the evidence suggests it sensitizes fewer people than most other listed fragrance allergens.

A floral fragrance component and one of the EU-labelled fragrance allergens. Usually fine, worth watching if you react to scented products.

Alpha-isomethyl ionone is a violet-scented fragrance material and one of the EU-listed allergens requiring label disclosure. Documented sensitization is more common with this ingredient than with many other listed fragrance allergens.

A common preservative and fragrance/solvent ingredient found naturally in many essential oils. It is well tolerated by most people at the levels used in cosmetics, but it is one of the 26 EU-designated fragrance allergens and can trigger reactions in people with an existing sensitivity.

An antioxidant that helps protect a formula and condition skin. Well tolerated.

A rose-scented fragrance ingredient found naturally in geranium and rose oil. It is one of the 26 fragrance allergens the EU requires to be labeled by name because a minority of people develop skin sensitization to it, though most users tolerate it without issue.

A linoleic-acid-rich plant oil used as an emollient and, in some small pediatric studies, associated with support of the skin barrier when applied to infant skin. It is well tolerated with a low reported rate of contact reactions.

A synthetic antioxidant approved in the EU and used at low levels to prevent product degradation and extend shelf life. Not absorbed through skin and presents no safety concern in cosmetic formulations.