What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientIsostearyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantOryza Sativa Powder
Squalane
Emollient
Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicSaccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Escin
TonicPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phytic Acid
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrochloric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isododecane, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-8, Oryza Sativa Powder, Squalane, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Cera Alba, Jojoba Esters, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Caprylyl Glycol, Phospholipids, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Escin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Beta-Sitosterol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Polyacrylate, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrochloric Acid, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
