What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningXylitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Oleyl Erucate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCanola Oil
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Oat Kernel Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Carrageenan
Emulsion StabilisingBehenic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingHydrated Silica
Abrasive
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Xylitol, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Oleyl Erucate, Propanediol, Myristyl Myristate, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Juice, C12-16 Alcohols, Canola Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Betaine, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Inulin, Hydrogenated Oat Kernel Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Ceramide EOP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Tocopherol, Saccharide Isomerate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Sclerotium Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Triethyl Citrate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carrageenan, Behenic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Maris Sal, Disodium Phosphate, Hydrated Silica, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
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
