What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Maxima Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cellulose
Absorbent
Citrus Limon Peel Powder
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Powder
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Xylityl Sesquicaprylate
Antimicrobial
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Corn Oil
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Phytate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Eugenol
Perfuming
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cucurbita Maxima Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cellulose, Citrus Limon Peel Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Oryza Sativa Powder, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bromelain, Papain, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycolipids, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Corn Oil, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Lactate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Maltodextrin, Sodium Phytate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Parfum, Eugenol, CI 40800, CI 14700
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 PhenoxyethanolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
