What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantLaureth-4
EmulsifyingAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantBioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin ConditioningOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialPolyporus Umbellatus Extract
Skin ProtectingArbutin
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSqualane
EmollientC15-19 Alkane
SolventPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Sprout Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil
Skin ProtectingSodium Citrate
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
AntioxidantWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Squalane, C15-19 Alkane, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ectoin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Helianthus Annuus Sprout Extract, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil, Sodium Citrate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
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