What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Maris Aqua
HumectantBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
Humectant
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingVibrio Alginolyticus Ferment Filtrate
Abrasive
Tetrasodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingPhormidium Persicinum Extract
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAlanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Helichrysum Stoechas Extract
TonicAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polysilicone-11, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, PEG-100 Stearate, Maris Aqua, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Superoxide Dismutase, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hexylene Glycol, Vibrio Alginolyticus Ferment Filtrate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Laureth-12, Phormidium Persicinum Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Alanine, Serine, Proline, Helichrysum Stoechas Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Phosphate, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol
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 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
