What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientBis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientDiglycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Ceteareth-20
CleansingEthylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 45410
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lilium Tigrinum Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diglycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Ceteareth-20, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, CI 77891, Polyglycerin-3, CI 15985, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 17200, CI 45410, CI 42090, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Butylene Glycol
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 Phenoxyethanol
