This brightening essence is formulated around Alpha-Arbutin and Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract to fade the look of dark spots and calm redness.
This calming essence is formulated around Centella Asiatica Leaf Water and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentBrassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingCentella Asiatica Leaf Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Butylene Glycol, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Panax Ginseng Leaf/Stem Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Panax Ginseng Callus Culture Extract, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Alternatives
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 Phenoxyethanol
