What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Stearate
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Steareth-21
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCocos Nucifera Fruit Water
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantSteareth-2
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Lycium Barbarum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Sodium Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Steareth-21, Sodium Chloride, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Water, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Steareth-2, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Lycium Barbarum Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tin Oxide, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891, CI 73360, CI 45380, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 15985, CI 17200
Homosalate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Simethicone
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Water, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica Silylate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Simethicone, Maltodextrin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Adenosine, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSynthetic Fluorphlogopite is the synthethic version of mica. It consists of fluorine, aluminum and silicate.
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite is used to add volume to products.
It is considered non-irritating on the skin.
Learn more about Synthetic FluorphlogopiteWater. 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
