What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Trehalose
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Magnesium Nitrate
Magnesium Chloride
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Butylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Trehalose, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride
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 Phenoxyethanol
