What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-7
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-7 Methyl Ether
SolventPEG-32
HumectantBoron Nitride
Absorbent
Nylon-12
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCyclomethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Styrene/Acrylamide Copolymer
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantBenzophenone-4
UV Absorber
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Papain
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Rosa Alba Leaf Cell Extract
Antioxidant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAlgin
Masking
CI 75470
Cosmetic ColorantTin Oxide
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Methylparaben
Preservative
Water, Glycereth-7, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Mica, PEG-7 Methyl Ether, PEG-32, Boron Nitride, Nylon-12, CI 77891, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, CI 77491, Tocopherol, CI 77163, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylparaben, Parfum, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Styrene/Acrylamide Copolymer, Potassium Hydroxide, CI 77492, Benzophenone-4, CI 77499, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Papain, BHT, Rosa Alba Leaf Cell Extract, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Algin, CI 75470, Tin Oxide, Lecithin, Methylparaben
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerPhenoxyethanol 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
