This pore-care serum is formulated around Gluconolactone and Lactic Acid to refine the look of pores and clear breakouts.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Snail Secretion Filtrate to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Enteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Isopentyldiol, Betaine, Gluconolactone, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Caprylyl Glycol, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Snail Secretion Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingC12-14 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sucrose
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningBroussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPropolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract
Antioxidant
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, C12-14 Pareth-12, C12-14 Pareth-7, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Allantoin, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Sucrose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Broussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract, Propolis Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Madecassoside, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol 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
