What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSorbitol
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
CleansingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantCentaurea Cyanus Flower Water
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Decyl Glucoside, Sorbitol, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Xylitol, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Citric Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyglyceryl-4 Lauryl Ether
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Malachite Extract
AntioxidantWater, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Trehalose, Allantoin, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-4 Lauryl Ether, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Malachite Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Hydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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