What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingWater, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Carbomer, Glycine Soja Protein, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethanolamine
Water
Skin ConditioningErythritol
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Succinic Acid
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerophosphoinositol Choline
Skin ProtectingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxycinnamic Acid
Skin ConditioningNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningRutin
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentWater, Erythritol, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Lactobionic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Succinic Acid, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerophosphoinositol Choline, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rutin, Biotin, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Parfum, Cyclodextrin
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 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 CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
