What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone
Surfactant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Cetyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Silica
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylpropanediol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Lauryl PEG-8 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethyl Oleate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Juice Extract
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethyl Oleate, Glycerin, Betaine, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Juice Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Gluconolactone, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycine Soja Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, T-Butyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Parfum
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
