What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientDimethiconol
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Trideceth-5
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTrideceth-10
CleansingMel
EmollientCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantAcetic Acid
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Propanediol
Solvent
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Honey
Humectant
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcumin
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Propanediol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Honey, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Curcumin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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
