This barrier-repair day moisturizer is formulated around Saccharide Isomerate to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialDibutyl Adipate
EmollientButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
UV Absorber
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethyl Caprylate
Betula Alba Juice
AstringentPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Propanediol
Solvent
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningC9-12 Alkane
SolventSilica
Abrasive
Trimethoxybenzylidene Pentanedione
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dibutyl Adipate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenoxyethyl Caprylate, Betula Alba Juice, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Propanediol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Tromethamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, C9-12 Alkane, Silica, Trimethoxybenzylidene Pentanedione, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Disodium EDTA, Triethyl Citrate, Trehalose, Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Citric Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carrageenan, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Phosphate, Maris Sal, Linalool, Parfum
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
