This hydrating toner is formulated around Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Ferulic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolydextrose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingElaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Water, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ferulic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Tocotrienols, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polydextrose, Xanthan Gum, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Maltodextrin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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
