What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Propanediol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Carbomer, Arginine, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Milk Protein, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Glycolic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disodium EDTA, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Copper Tripeptide-1, Butylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinPhenoxyethanol 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