What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyester-5
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract
AstringentDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantGlycine
Buffering
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningArtemia Extract
Skin ConditioningSerine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningCimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Silybum Marianum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningCysteine
Antioxidant
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Water, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Polyester-5, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Triethylhexanoin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-51, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Glycine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Raffinose, Artemia Extract, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Carnosine, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Resveratrol, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Proline, Caprylyl Glycol, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Sorbic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyester-5
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propanediol
Solvent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate
Emulsifying
PEG-60
HumectantHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingArnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Artemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Polyester-5, Alcohol Denat., Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, PEG-60, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate
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 PhenoxyethanolWe don't have a description for Polyester-5 yet.
Water. 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
