What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-30 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Phenoxyethanol
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Algae Extract
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Succinate
Antioxidant
Niacin
SmoothingSesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Tourmaline
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
EDTA
Disodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 61570
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Algae Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Bicarbonate, Tourmaline, Hexylene Glycol, Parfum, EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, CI 61570, CI 19140
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 Phenoxyethanol
