What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters
Emulsion Stabilising
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Laureth-20
EmulsifyingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Vp/Va Copolymer
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Alcohol Denat., Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Laureth-20, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Vp/Va Copolymer, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77266, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffin
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCera Alba
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Steareth-20
CleansingSilica
Abrasive
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Polymethacrylate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Polyquaternium-10
Disodium EDTA
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Ultramarines
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Paraffin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cera Alba, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Acacia Senegal Gum, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Steareth-20, Silica, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Polymethacrylate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Disodium EDTA, Tin Oxide, Panthenol, BHT, Ultramarines, Mica, CI 75470, Titanium Dioxide
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
This ingredient comes from a palm tree native to Brazil. This ingredient is used to thicken texture and leaves behind a film when applied.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
