What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientCaprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract
EmollientAgave Tequilana Leaf Extract
AstringentPrunus Avium Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Orchis Mascula Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Vegetable Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Maltose
MaskingSodium Phytate
ChelatingGlycerin
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyester-5
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Amber Powder
Homarine Hcl
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Acetate
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Caprylyl Methicone, Octyldodecanol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cannabis Sativa Seed Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Prunus Avium Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Orchis Mascula Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vegetable Amino Acids, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Maltose, Sodium Phytate, Glycerin, Erythritol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Pentylene Glycol, Polyester-5, Pvp, Sorbitol, Propylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Amber Powder, Homarine Hcl, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Acetate, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyurethane-35
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventPhenylpropanol
Masking
Water, Polyurethane-35, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cocos Nucifera Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Phenylpropanol
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
