Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser Versus Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser Versus Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm Detailed comparison of Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser versus Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. This gel cleanser uses mild cleansing ingredients, but contains alcohol that may feel drying for some. This oil-based makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup. Water Sodium Cocoamphoacetate Lauryl Glucoside Glycerin Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate Panthenol Urea Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract Citric Acid Benzyl Alcohol Phenoxyethanol Potassium Sorbate Salicylic Acid Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Tocopherol Pantolactone Sodium Benzoate Water, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Panthenol, Urea, Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Salicylic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Pantolactone, Sodium Benzoate Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides PEG-8 Beeswax Cetearyl Alcohol Sorbitan Stearate Sambucus Nigra Oil PEG-60 Almond Glycerides Silica Avena Sativa Kernel Oil Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax Lecithin Borago Officinalis Seed Oil Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Cocos Nucifera Oil Linalool Lavandula Hybrida Oil Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil Geraniol Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax Rosa Multiflora Flower Wax Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen Limonene Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil Parfum Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Menthol Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil Citral Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-8 Beeswax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Stearate, Sambucus Nigra Oil, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Silica, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Wax, Glycerin, Lecithin, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Linalool, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Geraniol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Rosa Multiflora Flower Wax, Tocopherol, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Limonene, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Parfum, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Menthol, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Citral, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum. Topically, glycerin does several things at once: Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3. Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin. This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products. Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity. Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine. 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. Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E. You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells. Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes. It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-bin