This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Silica and Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and balance excess oil.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingDisodium Oleamido Mipa-Sulfosuccinate
CleansingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Stearamidoethyl Diethylamine
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Menthol
Masking
Trisodium Sulfosuccinate
BufferingSodium Sulfate
Oleamide Mipa
Foam BoostingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantMethylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Oleamido Mipa-Sulfosuccinate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Salicylic Acid, Stearamidoethyl Diethylamine, Butylene Glycol, Menthol, Trisodium Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Sulfate, Oleamide Mipa, Caramel, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingDimethicone
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingBambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTipa-Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Paraffin
Skin Conditioning
Pumice
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMannitol
Humectant
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Laurate
CleansingCellulose
Absorbent
Tetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingHydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingHierochloe Odorata Extract
MaskingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 77007
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Salicylate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Lauric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Extract, Tipa-Laureth Sulfate, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Behenate, Parfum, Propanediol, Paraffin, Pumice, CI 77891, Mannitol, Synthetic Wax, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Laurate, Cellulose, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Hierochloe Odorata Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract, CI 77007, Sodium Salicylate, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Triethyl Citrate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate
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
