What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 9%
Cosmetic Colorant
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyisobutene
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying
Oleth-3 Phosphate
SurfactantIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingZinc Oxide 9%, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate 7.5%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phosphoric Acid
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 7%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningStyrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingPEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-8 Laurate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCassia Alata Leaf Extract
AstringentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
CleansingButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Water, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Caprylyl Methicone, Trisiloxane, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-8 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Tocopherol, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Disodium EDTA, P-Anisic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
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
