What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSd Alcohol 40-B
Astringent
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Polyvinyl Alcohol
PEG-8
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingCharcoal
Abrasive
Solum Fullonum
AbsorbentMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract
AstringentCymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSantalum Album Extract
CleansingMacrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Maranta Arundinacea Root Extract
SmoothingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Calcium Chloride
AstringentCI 77231
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Chloride
Magnesium Sulfate
Potassium Chloride
Potassium Sulfate
Parfum
Masking
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Alcohol Denat., Polyvinyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Chloride, Charcoal, Solum Fullonum, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Santalum Album Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Maranta Arundinacea Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Calcium Chloride, CI 77231, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Sulfate, Parfum, CI 77499
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 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
