What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Tromethamine
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyacrylate-13
Parfum
Masking
Polyisobutene
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningSanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract
CleansingUncaria Gambir Extract
AstringentPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Pelargonium Graveolens Extract
Masking
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingMentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
TonicSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Isoceteth-10
EmulsifyingIsoceteth-25
EmulsifyingPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polysorbate 60, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Tromethamine, Chlorphenesin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyacrylate-13, Parfum, Polyisobutene, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Uncaria Gambir Extract, Polysorbate 20, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Isoceteth-10, Isoceteth-25, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Algae Extract
EmollientCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIngredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
