What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.3%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 3%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8
HumectantPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.3%, Octocrylene 3%, Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PEG-8, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 16035
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 Phenoxyethanol
