What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%
UV Absorber
Homosalate 10%
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%
UV Absorber
Octocrylene 10%
UV Absorber
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butyloctyl Salicylate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDiisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Dibutyl Adipate
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Carnitine
Cleansing
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientDiethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Skin ProtectingEthylcellulose
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Water, Alcohol Denat., Butyloctyl Salicylate, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Dibutyl Adipate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Carnitine, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Ethylcellulose, Glyceryl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-6 Octastearate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
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
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
