Skin science article
The INKEY List Hydrating Cream-To-Milk Cleanser Versus The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
The INKEY List Hydrating Cream-To-Milk Cleanser Versus The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser This mild cream cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry. This mild cream cleanser is mild enough to cleanse without leaving skin feeling ti
The INKEY List Hydrating Cream-To-Milk Cleanser Versus The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
This mild cream cleanser is made to cleanse without leaving your skin tight or dry.
This mild cream cleanser is mild enough to cleanse without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
Betaine
Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Isohexadecane
Pentylene Glycol
Propanediol
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Hydroxyacetophenone
Oryza Sativa
Caprylyl Glycol
Cetearyl Olivate
Polysorbate 80
Sorbitan Olivate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Sodium Hydroxide
Sorbitan Oleate
Xanthan Gum
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Inulin
Polyquaternium-10
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Phenoxyethanol
Lecithin
Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate/Stearate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydroxyacetophenone, Oryza Sativa, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Inulin, Polyquaternium-10, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin
Behenyl Alcohol
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Glycolipids
Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
Glyceryl Stearate
Stearyl Alcohol
Diutan Gum
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Sodium Phytate
Phytic Acid
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Benzoate
Chlorphenesin
Water, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glycolipids, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Diutan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Phytate, Phytic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
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.
Water. 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!