Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Intensive Pore Exfoliating Treatment Versus Peter Thomas Roth PRO Strength Retinoid Peptide Serum
This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Lactic Acid and Silica to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Pectin
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carica Papaya Fruit
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Cinnamal
Perfuming
Mel
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Eugenol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil
Masking
Acetic Acid
BufferingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
CI 75810
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Lactic Acid, Silica, Glycine Soja Oil, Pectin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carica Papaya Fruit, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Alcohol Denat., Sorbic Acid, Cinnamal, Mel, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Eugenol, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Beta-Carotene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Bromelain, Papain, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Acetic Acid, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, CI 75810
C9-12 Alkane
SolventDimethicone
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTrisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningMica
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
C9-12 Alkane, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Trisiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysilicone-11, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14, Ceramide NP, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Squalane, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Hydroxystearic Acid, Triolein, Bisabolol, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, Mica, Phenoxyethanol
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
