What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 12%
Cosmetic Colorant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Isostearate
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningZinc Oxide 12%, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Biotin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Isostearate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ubiquinone, Water
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Drometrizole Trisiloxane
UV Absorber
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Isocetyl Stearate
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBHT
Antioxidant
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract
Skin Protecting
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77163
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantDiethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
Cleansing
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, CI 77891, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Drometrizole Trisiloxane, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Isocetyl Stearate, Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, BHT, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Seedcake Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, CI 42090, CI 77163, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Parfum
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
