What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
Betula Pendula Sap
Skin ConditioningMalpighia Glabra Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Geraniol
Perfuming
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citral
Perfuming
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Betula Pendula Sap, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Juice, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Gluconate, Limonene, Linalool, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Geraniol, Maltodextrin, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Citral, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citronellol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, CI 40800
Reviews
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 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
