This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Polysilicone-11
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-6
HumectantCitrus Grandis Peel Extract
Astringent
Morus Nigra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Isohexadecane
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Dimethoxytolyl Propylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Rna
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-8
HumectantLecithin
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTin Oxide
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Chloride
AstringentSea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Isododecane, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PEG-10 Dimethicone, PEG-6, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Morus Nigra Root Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Algae Extract, Plankton Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Faex Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Ergothioneine, Whey Protein, Polysorbate 20, Micrococcus Lysate, Cholesterol, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Isohexadecane, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Caffeine, Glycine Soja Protein, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dimethoxytolyl Propylresorcinol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Tromethamine, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Rna, Squalane, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-8, Lecithin, Hexylene Glycol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Tin Oxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 14700, CI 77891, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Calcium Chloride, Sea Whip 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
