What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDiatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Bromelain
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Magnesium Silicate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Benzyl PCA
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Linalool
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Diatomaceous Earth, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Papain, Bromelain, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Cetearyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Lactic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, CI 77891
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
