What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientMannitol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGellan Gum
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Mannitol, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gellan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pantolactone, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11, Citric Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ceteth-20 Phosphate
CleansingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Naringenin
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPanthenyl Triacetate
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientSphingolipids
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Gallyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Xylitol
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingPhytic Acid
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Propanediol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hexyldecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Anhydroxylitol, Ethyl Linoleate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Naringenin, Cyanocobalamin, Panthenyl Triacetate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Bisabolol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Sphingolipids, Phospholipids, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Propyl Gallate, Xylitol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Stearic Acid, Dicetyl Phosphate, Isoceteth-20, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Phytic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
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 PhenoxyethanolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
