What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
SurfactantBehentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids
Cleansing
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Potassium Dimethicone PEG-7 Panthenyl Phosphate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Sarcosinate
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningCereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Amodimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Trideceth-6, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Amino Acids, Cetrimonium Chloride, Potassium Dimethicone PEG-7 Panthenyl Phosphate, Sodium Sarcosinate, Caramel, Propylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Arginine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hexyl Cinnamal, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Limonene, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Cereus Grandiflorus Flower Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Glucose, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopherol
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
