What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Poloxamer 184
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Propanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Poloxamer 184, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Panthenol, Allantoin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSodium Glycolate
BufferingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicTocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Polysorbate 20, Cellulose Gum, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Mandelic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Coconut Acid, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Alpha-Arbutin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Sodium Glycolate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
