What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Acrylates Copolymer
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract
AstringentCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingHexamethylindanopyran
Masking
Water, Polysilicone-11, Amp-Acrylates/Allyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Pvp, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Silica, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-12, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Hexamethylindanopyran
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Sea Water
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Magnesium Carbonate
AbsorbentHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLens Esculenta Seed Extract
Skin ProtectingZinc PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Silica, Pvp, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sea Water, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Magnesium Carbonate, Hyaluronic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Zinc PCA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid
Reviews
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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolPvp is a water-soluble synthetic polymer and common hairstyling ingredient. It is a film-forming ingredient and used to "hold" specific shapes of hair.
In cosmetics, PVP helps products like sunscreens and color cosmetics last longer and wear more evenly.
It is less effective in high-humidity. It tends to draw moisture, but this moisture dismantles the structure and "hold".
PVP is generally well tolerated on skin and toxicity studies are negative for dermal irritation.
Learn more about PvpSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
