What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Perfuming
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Erythritol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract
Masking
Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningArbutin
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
Bleaching1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Artemisia Capillaris Extract
Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Morus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Methylparaben
Preservative
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Glycerin, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Dimethicone, Polyacrylamide, Erythritol, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Chlorphenesin, Bisabolol, Laureth-7, Cyclopentasiloxane, Centella Asiatica Extract, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Seed Extract, Pyrus Cydonia Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben, Titanium Dioxide
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 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
