What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Water
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Junos Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Citrus Depressa Peel Extract
HumectantSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Ascorbyl Dipalmitate
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Linalool
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Sodium PCA, Trehalose, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Sodium Chloride, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Lauryl Betaine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Citrus Depressa Peel Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Ascorbyl Dipalmitate, Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Linalool, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
