What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Stabilising
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Triethanolamine, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 60, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract, Parfum, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Soluble Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mannitol, Bromelain, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Papain, Betaine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, CI 15985, CI 17200
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
