What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDiglycerin
Humectant
Triethanolamine
BufferingGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Lactiflora Extract
AstringentGlucose
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
Humectant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Silk Extract, Xanthan Gum, Diglycerin, Triethanolamine, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Allantoin, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Glucose, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Phenoxyethanol, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Madecassoside, Bisabolol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng
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
