What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBentonite
AbsorbentKaolin
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantPerlite
AbsorbentHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentMica
Cosmetic ColorantAlgae Extract
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-100 Stearate
Charcoal Powder
AbrasiveSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientMedicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
AbrasivePrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
AbrasiveEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Succinate
AntioxidantNiacin
SmoothingSesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningCI 77220
Cosmetic ColorantGlycolic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingLactic Acid
BufferingPhytic Acid
Tourmaline
Malachite
Skin ConditioningPearl Powder
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
CleansingSucrose
HumectantSpirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
MaskingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantDicetyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingGlycerin
HumectantBis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentCamelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingMethyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingPropylene Glycol Laurate
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol Stearate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingJojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Alcohol
AntimicrobialSorbitan Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Magnesium Silicate
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingParfum
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Bentonite, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Perlite, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Mica, Algae Extract, Silica, Yeast 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, Maris Sal, 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
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf
PerfumingPapain
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran
AbrasiveSericin
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
HumectantPropanediol
SolventDextrin
AbsorbentPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPropyl Alcohol
SolventAlcohol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMicrocrystalline 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 a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.