Green Pharmacy Gentle Facial Wash Gel Versus KUMANO COSME Reihaku Hatomugi Acne Care & Facial Washing Medicated Facial Foam
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Laureth Sulfate
CleansingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Chloride
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingParfum
MaskingPropylene Glycol
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Triethylene Glycol
MaskingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingMethylchloroisothiazolinone
PreservativeMethylisothiazolinone
PreservativeWater, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Triethylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica
AbrasiveCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDiphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Boron Nitride
AbsorbentMenthol
MaskingMenthoxypropanediol
MaskingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Tribehenin
EmollientTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientHydroxyapatite
AbrasiveRosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientStearyl Dimethicone
EmollientSea Salt
AbrasiveCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantAlumina
AbrasiveAluminum Distearate
Emulsion StabilisingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningAluminum Dimyristate
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
CleansingMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Tocopherol
AntioxidantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Magnesium Myristate
Aluminum Chloride
AstringentTin Oxide
AbrasiveCerium Oxide
Water
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDimethicone
EmollientTalc
AbrasivePerfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantZinc Oxide
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77120, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Boron Nitride, Menthol, Menthoxypropanediol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Tribehenin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hydroxyapatite, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Stearyl Dimethicone, Sea Salt, Ceramide NP, Squalane, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Alumina, Aluminum Distearate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Aluminum Dimyristate, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyisobutene, Tocopherol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Magnesium Myristate, Aluminum Chloride, Tin Oxide, Cerium Oxide, Water, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Talc, Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane, Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxides
Alternatives
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 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