What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate
Skin ConditioningDiglycerin
Humectant
Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Avium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Pullulan
Inositol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMaltose
MaskingXylitol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Vegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
ChelatingCitric Acid
Buffering
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., PEG-150 Distearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate, Diglycerin, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Prunus Avium Flower Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Sorbitol, Pullulan, Inositol, Betaine, Carbomer, Maltose, Xylitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Pvp, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Vegetable Amino Acids, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
Isododecane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
Isododecane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysilicone-11, Methyl Trimethicone, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisiloxane, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-12 Dimethicone/PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lauroyl Lysine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Phenoxyethanol, BHT
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
