What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Glutamate
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingPunica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Glutamate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Broussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningGalactoarabinan
Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningZinc Lactate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Broussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Galactoarabinan, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Zinc Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
