What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBentonite
Absorbent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Perlite
Absorbent
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantAlgae Extract
EmollientSilica
Abrasive
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Succinate
Antioxidant
Niacin
SmoothingSesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningCI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Phytic Acid
Tourmaline
Malachite
Skin ConditioningPearl Powder
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Sucrose
Humectant
Spirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Dicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-8
HumectantSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingPropylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingJojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Surfactant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sodium Magnesium Silicate
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Bentonite, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Perlite, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Mica, Algae Extract, Silica, Faex Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Charcoal Powder, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, CI 77220, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Phytic Acid, Tourmaline, Malachite, Pearl Powder, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Sucrose, Spirulina Platensis Powder, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sea Salt, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Trehalose, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-8, Sodium Polyaspartate, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Phosphatidylcholine, PEG-150 Distearate, Hexylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Alcohol, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Alcohol Denat., Citric Acid, Parfum, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77288, CI 77289, CI 77499
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Powder
Sodium Lauryl Phosphate
EmulsifyingSodium Palmoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantLauryl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran
Abrasive
Sericin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dextrin
AbsorbentPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Propyl Alcohol
Solvent
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Microcrystalline Cellulose, Oryza Sativa Powder, Sodium Lauryl Phosphate, Sodium Palmoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Lauryl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Papain, Oryza Sativa Bran, Sericin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Propanediol, Dextrin, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Propyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It is denatured, meaning made undrinkable for cosmetic use.
In formulas, it:
Is it bad for your skin?
The answer comes down to concentration. Patch and wash studies have found highly concentrated alcohol-based hand rubs (60-100%) cause less barrier disruption than washing with a basic detergent like SLS. The only measurable effect in these studies was a temporary dip in skin hydration.
Concentrations below 12-15% in leave-on cosmetics is generally well-tolerated. Concentrations above start to see increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduced hydration.
In concentrations about 58%, it creates temporary channels in your skin's lipid layers to become more permeable and allow other ingredients to slip through easily.
This ingredient can be up to 80% of the formula in alcohol-based perfumes.
Overall, this ingredient is probably harmless if found lower down an ingredients list but worth side-eyeing if it's high up (especially if your barrier is already struggling).
Alcohol can worsen dry skin, eczema, and oily skin, especially at higher concentrations. This is because it can increase transepidermal water loss and decrease hydration to disrupt the skin barrier.
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
True allergic contact dermatitis to ethanol is uncommon, but be sure to patch test if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Learn more about AlcoholPhenoxyethanol 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
