True Match Super-Blendable Concealer

A lightweight, volatile silicone that gives serums and primers their silky slip and quick-evaporating finish. Human safety data are reassuring; the EU restriction on this ingredient in rinse-off products is about environmental persistence in waterways, not skin safety.

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

A corn-derived solvent and humectant that has largely replaced propylene glycol in "clean" formulas; CIR reviewed the alkane diol group and found use concentrations up to about 40 percent in leave-on products like deodorant sticks with no meaningful irritation signal.

A fast-evaporating solvent used to carry actives and give toners a light, "clean" feel; at the concentrations used in classic astringents it can be genuinely drying or irritating with repeated use, especially on dry or compromised skin, though it is not inherently toxic and is a normal, well-studied cosmetic ingredient.

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

A silicone with phenyl groups that provides conditioning and a refined feel in foundations and color cosmetics. It is inert and well tolerated across skin types.

A silicone emulsifier combining polyethylene glycol and dimethicone to help blend water and oil phases in serums and primers. Limited but consistent data support its safety in cosmetic formulations.

Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone is a silicone backbone capped with polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol chains, added to formulas to help water and silicone oils blend into one stable product. It works as an emulsifier and skin-feel conditioner rather than an active ingredient. CIR has reviewed the broader group of PEG/PPG-modified (alkoxylated) polysiloxanes this ingredient belongs to and did not flag a specific safety concern, though this exact ingredient has not been the subject of its own standalone report.

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate is a fatty ester used as an emollient that leaves a smooth, non tacky finish in lip products, creams, and hair care. CIR reviewed it within the alkyl esters group and concluded it is safe as used at concentrations up to 18% when the finished product is 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 mineral powder valued for its absorbent and soft-feel properties in cosmetics. Cosmetic-grade talc is required to be asbestos-free; inhalation risk from topical application is minimal. Generally well tolerated when used as intended.

A widely used preservative, safe at the legal limit of 1% or less. Often the "paraben-free" replacement.

A synthetic polymer used to impart silky texture and film-forming properties in skincare. Nylon particles remain on the surface and do not penetrate or absorb systemically, with a long history of safe use in cosmetics.

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

Caprylyl glycol is a plant-derived humectant that also has mild antimicrobial properties, so it is commonly paired with other preservatives to allow lower overall preservative levels. Available data do not point to meaningful irritation or sensitization concerns at typical use levels.

A natural alkaloid and studied active ingredient in skincare, valued for its antioxidant properties and potential to promote local circulation and reduce puffiness. Topical application results in minimal systemic absorption, graded low concern in regulatory assessments.

A nonionic emulsifier from the same family as Steareth-2, used to hold oil and water phases together in lotions and roll-on antiperspirants. Well tolerated in rinse-off and leave-on formulas. Approved for cosmetic use.

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 widely used, gentle preservative also common in food. It is generally well tolerated, though it can occasionally cause mild, transient irritation in people with already-compromised or very reactive skin.

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide attaches a fatty palmitic acid tail to a short synthetic peptide, a design used in anti-aging serums to signal skin cells, including as one component of the widely marketed Matrixyl 3000 complex. CIR's review of palmitoyl oligopeptides as a class did not identify a safety signal, and as a large synthetic peptide it is not expected to cross intact skin in meaningful amounts. Independently published clinical evidence on how well any single palmitoyl peptide performs is thinner than the marketing built around it.

A peptide lipid that mimics collagen fragments and signals skin cells to increase collagen production while reducing inflammation. Established in anti-aging formulas with a consistent safety record.