What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Lecithin
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Cetylpyridinium Chloride
AntimicrobialCichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingCitronellol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrochloric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingLeptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
Tonic
Linalool
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantNiacin
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytosphingosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Titanium Dioxide, Lecithin, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Alcohol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Azelaic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Citronellol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Laureth-7, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Linalool, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mica, Niacin, Panthenol, Pantolactone, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Phytosphingosine Hcl, Potassium Sorbate, Retinal, Retinyl Palmitate, Silybum Marianum Extract, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cholate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Tranexamic Acid, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiutan Gum
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, Mandelic Acid, Carbomer, Mannitol, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Ceramide NP, Morinda Citrifolia Callus Culture Lysate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Phosphatidylcholine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Diutan Gum, Tocopherol, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Alternatives
Ingredients 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 PhenoxyethanolPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
