Soft Matte Lip Cream

A multi-ester emollient derived from pentaerythritol and isostearic acid. It softens and protects skin, with no known safety concerns in cosmetic formulas.

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

A natural wax secreted by honeybees, used as an emollient and texture builder in balms and salves. It is generally well tolerated. People with bee or pollen allergies should patch test, as rare sensitization has been documented.

An ester derived from glycerin and behenic acid, used to thicken formulations and improve texture. Standard cosmetic ingredient with no documented safety concerns.

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

A crosslinked silicone polymer that creates a velvety texture in primers and powders. The crosslinked structure does not change its safety profile, and it is inert and well tolerated.

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.

An acrylic crosspolymer used to thicken and stabilize cosmetic products. Established use in cosmetics indicates minimal skin irritation potential at typical formulation levels.

A mineral thickener and anti-caking agent widely used in sunscreens and cosmetics to control texture and prevent ingredient separation. CIR has reviewed silica in cosmetic use and found no basis for concern at the levels used topically.

A starch derivative used to thicken sunscreen lotions and absorb excess oil; the aluminum here is bound in a starch complex, unlike the soluble aluminum salts used in antiperspirants. CIR has reviewed aluminum starch octenylsuccinate and found it safe as used in cosmetic formulations.

This branched hydrocarbon is one of the isoparaffins the CIR Expert Panel reviewed and found safe as used in cosmetics, including as an emollient in leave-on face creams. It is generally considered non-comedogenic and used mainly to give a lightweight, non-greasy skin feel.

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.

Propylene carbonate is a small, high-boiling solvent used to dissolve other ingredients and thin out formulas in products like lipstick, eyeshadow, and mascara. Undiluted material caused moderate skin irritation in testing, but at the concentrations actually used in finished products (generally under 20%), CIR's panel found it at most moderately irritating and reaffirmed it safe as used, with no meaningful sensitization or photoirritation seen.

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.