What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAmorphophallus Konjac Root Extract
HumectantTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Chlorella Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract
HumectantArginine
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Chloride
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCalcium Chloride
AstringentSodium Chloride
MaskingPotassium Chloride
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Propanediol, Isopentyldiol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Chlorella Ferment, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Magnesium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters
Emulsifying
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingMica
Cosmetic ColorantTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Acrylates Copolymer, Parfum, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Phytosterol Esters, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Salicylate
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidPhenoxyethanol 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
