What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoconut Alkanes
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearates
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Rosa Moschata Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Honey
Humectant
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-20
CleansingN-Hydroxysuccinimide
Skin ConditioningChrysin
Skin ConditioningEscin
TonicCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Coconut Alkanes, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearates, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Honey, Hydroxyapatite, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii Nut Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Steareth-20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Escin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Benzoic Acid, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Biotin
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
