What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentTaraxacum Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCarrageenan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Dimethyl Sulfone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carrageenan, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer
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 PhenoxyethanolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
