What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Squalane
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialOctyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientAcrylamide/Sodium Acrylate Copolymer
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientBetaine
Humectant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
UV Filter
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientJojoba Oil PEG-8 Esters
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Ceteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Parfum
Masking
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Jojoba Oil PEG-8 Esters, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Steareth-2, Saccharide Isomerate, Laureth-23, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
