What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEmulsifying Wax Nf
Glycerin
Humectant
Amodimethicone
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Silk Amino Acids
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer
Linalool
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Urtica Dioica Extract
AstringentEquisetum Arvense Leaf Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Agave Americana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Emulsifying Wax Nf, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Methyl Gluceth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, CI 42090, Parfum, Limonene, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citric Acid, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/Pvp Crosspolymer, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Amyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxycitronellal, Urtica Dioica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Agave Americana Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningBehentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Ulmus Fulva Bark Extract
MoisturisingRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cera Alba
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Diethyl Phthalate
Masking
Water, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Ulmus Fulva Bark Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cera Alba, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Diethyl Phthalate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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
