What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Polyquaternium-7
Cocamide Methyl Mea
Surfactant
PEG-160 Sorbitan Triisostearate
Cleansing
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Oryza Sativa Extract, Propanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Glucoside, Saccharide Isomerate, Polyquaternium-7, Cocamide Methyl Mea, PEG-160 Sorbitan Triisostearate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Diphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Menthol
Masking
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Tribehenin
Emollient
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
Emollient
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive
Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientStearyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alumina
Abrasive
Aluminum Distearate
Emulsion StabilisingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Aluminum Dimyristate
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Hydrogen Dimethicone
Magnesium Myristate
Aluminum Chloride
AstringentTin Oxide
Abrasive
Cerium Oxide
Water
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Talc
Abrasive
Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantLauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Iron Oxides
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77120, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Boron Nitride, Menthol, Menthoxypropanediol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Tribehenin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hydroxyapatite, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Stearyl Dimethicone, Sea Salt, Ceramide NP, Squalane, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Alumina, Aluminum Distearate, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Aluminum Dimyristate, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyisobutene, Tocopherol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Magnesium Myristate, Aluminum Chloride, Tin Oxide, Cerium Oxide, Water, Aluminum Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Talc, Perfluorooctyl Triethoxysilane, Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Alternatives
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
