What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cellulose Acetate
Glycerin
Humectant
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cellulose Acetate, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
