What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Isododecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Silica
Abrasive
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Talc
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Scutellaria Baicalensis Callus Culture
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Zinc Oxide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Isododecane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Talc, Sodium Chloride, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Callus Culture, Centella Asiatica Extract, Bisabolol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, O-Cymen-5-Ol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene 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
