What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingIsopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Squalane
Emollient
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Polyvinyl Alcohol
BHT
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Isopropyl Myristate, Synthetic Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Plankton Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Silica, Polyvinyl Alcohol, BHT, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Hydroxide, CI 77491, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Trifluoropropyldimethyl/Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientCI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Dipeptide-15
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Cellulose
Absorbent
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Thymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Alumina
Abrasive
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Methyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Trifluoropropyldimethyl/Trimethylsiloxysilicate, CI 77120, Sodium Chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Dipeptide-15, Xanthan Gum, Chlorphenesin, Cellulose, CI 77891, Mica, Tocopherol, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-51, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide, Zinc Oxide, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Alumina, Dipropylene Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolThis ingredient comes as a powder made up of small, porous, microbeads. It is used to add a silky feel to products and also helps absorb oil.
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 PhenoxyethanolTriethylhexanoin is created from glycerin and 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is a solvent and emollient.
As a solvent, Triethylhexanoin helps dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
It is also an emollient and helps condition the skin.
Learn more about TriethylhexanoinWater. 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
