What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Cera
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Amorphophallus Konjac Root
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sphingolipids
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-6, Sorbitan Laurate, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Cera, Hydrolyzed Amorphophallus Konjac Root, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Parfum, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Triethanolamine
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Erythritol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Chamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantIngredients 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
