This barrier-repair day moisturizer is formulated around Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride and Silica to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Polyacrylamide
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDiospyros Mespiliformis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingSanicula Europaea Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFurcellaria Lumbricalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningCallicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Xylitylglucoside, Parfum, Polyacrylamide, Anhydroxylitol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xylitol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Decylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Diospyros Mespiliformis Leaf Extract, Glucose, Maltodextrin, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Sanicula Europaea Extract, Tromethamine, Citric Acid, Lapsana Communis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Maris Sal, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit 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.
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
