What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
Astringent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin Protecting
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetrimonium Chloride, Carbomer, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Panthenol, Papain, Bromelain, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Betaine, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid, Fragaria Ananassa Fruit Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Alcohol Denat., Maltodextrin, Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, CI 19140
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 Water
