What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPolyaminopropyl Biguanide
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientKinetin
Skin ConditioningZeatin
Skin ConditioningPolyurethane-40
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrochloric Acid
BufferingWater, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Panthenol, Ethoxydiglycol, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Disodium EDTA, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Kinetin, Zeatin, Polyurethane-40, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrochloric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Matrixyl 3000
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Undecane
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Dioleate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTridecane
Perfuming
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Glycine
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
Humectant
Lysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Isopropyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Squalane, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Ceramide NP, Ceramide As, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Hexapeptide-11, Matrixyl 3000, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triolein, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Oleate, Undecane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Dioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Tridecane, Betaine, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Sodium Benzoate, Serine, Alanine, Palmitic Acid, Glycine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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
