MAYBELLINE Super BB Water Essence

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Aqua
2. Alcohol
3. Glycerin
4. Dipropylene glycol
5. Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate
6. Styrene/acrylates copolymer
7. Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate
8. Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer
9. Triethanolamine
10. Poloxamer 338
11. Carbomer
12. Parfum
13. Salicylic Acid
14. Paraffinum Liquidum
15. Mineral Oil
16. Isopropyl titanium triisostearate
17. Alumina
18. PEG-8
19. Perlite
20. Ascorbyl Palmitate
21. Menthol
22. t-Butyl alcohol
23. Linalool
24. Tocopheryl Acetate
25. Aloe
26. Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
27. Benzyl Alcohol
28. BHT
29. Citronellol
30. Butylene Glycol
31. Tin oxide
32. Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
33. Citric Acid
34. Potassium Sorbate
35. CI 77491
36. CI 77492
37. CI 77499

Highlights

Free of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains alcoholContains EU-26 allergensContains fragranceContains mineral oil

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

ANTIFOAMING

Alcohol

DENATURANT

Glycerin

FRAGRANCE

Dipropylene glycol

LIGHT STABILIZER

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate

FILM FORMING

Styrene/acrylates copolymerMethyl methacrylate crosspolymer

EMULSION STABILISING

Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate

Other ingredients

TriethanolaminePoloxamer 338CarbomerParfumSalicylic AcidParaffinum LiquidumMineral OilIsopropyl titanium triisostearateAluminaPEG-8PerliteAscorbyl PalmitateMentholt-Butyl alcoholLinaloolTocopheryl AcetateAloeSodium Palmitoyl ProlineBenzyl AlcoholBHTCitronellolButylene GlycolTin oxideNymphaea Alba Flower ExtractCitric AcidPotassium SorbateCI 77491CI 77492CI 77499

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Alcohol

Ethanol for solubility/drying at 5-15%; high conc. is drying/irritating, avoid lip/eye, low residue, balance with humectants.

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Dipropylene glycol

Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate

UVA absorber used with other filters; poor water stability and photolability, requires light stabilizers, max concentration typically 10%.

Styrene/acrylates copolymer

Film former and opacifier for powder makeup; some batches contain sensitizing monomers.

Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate

Cationic water-soluble polymer; stabilizer and conditioner, test compatibility with anions

Methyl methacrylate crosspolymer

MMA crosspolymer for durable water-soluble film; high doses may create occlusion

Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine for buffering; restricted, limit concentration to avoid high pH and irritation

Poloxamer 338

Not decoded yet

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Parfum

Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.

Salicylic Acid

Lipophilic BHA at 0.5-2%; exfoliant/sebum control, irritation/sensitization at high conc., photosensitivity (SPF needed), avoid sensitive/pregnant.

Paraffinum Liquidum

Mineral oil occlusive; high moisture retention but heavy feel, moderate comedogenicity, caution for acne-prone skin.

Mineral Oil

Occlusive emollient preventing water loss; must use high-purity medical grade to avoid impurities.

Isopropyl titanium triisostearate

Titanium isostearate complex for UVB absorption and emulsification aid; photostable, low irritancy, low comedogenicity.

Alumina

Alumina, inorganic abrasive/thickener; nano-grade requires inhalation risk assessment.

PEG-8

Not decoded yet

Perlite

Inorganic porous material used as an absorbent and bulking agent; avoid dust inhalation.

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Ascorbyl palmitate, lipophilic Vit C ester, antioxidant; oxidizes, needs light/air protection.

Menthol

Cooling and soothing agent at 0.5–2%; high levels may cause sensitivity or irritation, use caution around eyes and mucous membranes

t-Butyl alcohol

Fast-evaporating solvent; sharp odor and potential irritation at high levels, limit usage

Linalool

Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Aloe

Not decoded yet

Sodium Palmitoyl Proline

Amino acid derivative for mild cleansing and conditioning; also acts as humectant.

Benzyl Alcohol

Mild preservative/solvent at 0.5-1.0%; EU allergen (labeling required), irritation risk if concentrated, avoid in infant/highly sensitive skin.

BHT

Lipophilic antioxidant at 0.01-0.05%; ineffective with acidic systems, label-sensitive, check regulatory limits as preservative alternative.

Citronellol

Citronellol for fragrance; EU 26 allergen, labeling required above 0.001%.

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Tin oxide

Inorganic mineral pigment providing opacity and suspension; requires skin safety assessment, typically used in sunscreens or powder colorants.

Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract

Lotus extract, traditional sedative; limited data, use as secondary functional ingredient.

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

CI 77491

Iron oxides red; physical pigment. Coloring and photo-protective, stable and non-irritating.

CI 77492

Iron oxide red; stable inorganic pigment, non-toxic; ensure dispersion to prevent sedimentation.

CI 77499

Inorganic colorant manganese dioxide used in cosmetics; restricted use component subject to regulatory limits.