What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Homosalate 15%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Zinc Oxide 3%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Himanthalia Elongata Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Gigartina Stellata Extract
Skin ProtectingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningBoswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Honey Extract
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ethyl Ferulate
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Farnesol
Perfuming
Tetrapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Homosalate 15%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Zinc Oxide 3%, Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Himanthalia Elongata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Gigartina Stellata Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Honey Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ethyl Ferulate, Trehalose, Disodium EDTA, Cetyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isopentyldiol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Farnesol, Tetrapeptide-14, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
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 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
