What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVp/Va Copolymer
Isobutane
Propane
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
CleansingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
Humectant
Sargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Algin
Masking
Carrageenan
Chitosan
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Oleth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyquaternium-4
Parfum
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Silicone Quaternium-3
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trideceth-12
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Polyurethane-14
Sorbitol
Humectant
Amp-Acrylates Copolymer
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water, Vp/Va Copolymer, Isobutane, Propane, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Glycerin, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Tocopherol, Algin, Carrageenan, Chitosan, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Oleth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Polyquaternium-4, Parfum, Cetyl Alcohol, Laureth-4, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cetrimonium Bromide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Myristyl Alcohol, Silicone Quaternium-3, Arachidyl Alcohol, Trideceth-12, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Polyurethane-14, Sorbitol, Amp-Acrylates Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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
