What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Squalane
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyisobutene
BHT
Antioxidant
Butylparaben
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
CI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Water
Skin ConditioningIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Taurine
BufferingC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine
Buffering
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Taurine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Arginine, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glycine, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract
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
