This hydrating toner is formulated around Sodium PCA and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
PEG-20
HumectantErythritol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingParfum
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Magnesium Chloride
Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Calcium Chloride
AstringentSerine
Masking
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oryzanol
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Zingiber Aromaticus Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract
TonicPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Propanediol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Butylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Isostearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium PCA, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, PEG-20, Erythritol, Sodium Citrate, Parfum, Alcohol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Magnesium Chloride, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Calcium Chloride, Serine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Oryzanol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Zingiber Aromaticus Extract, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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
