What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Ceresin
Emulsion StabilisingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ergosterol
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantDiisostearyl Malate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Ceresin, Triethylhexanoin, Ozokerite, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Ergosterol, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Silica, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 15850, CI 15985
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantHylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Chlorella Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Maris Aqua
HumectantAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Agarose
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Carbonate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 45380
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Niacinamide, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Chlorella Ferment, Tocopherol, Maris Aqua, Allantoin, Agarose, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Potassium Carbonate, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Linalool, CI 45380, CI 45410, CI 17200
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 Water
