What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientDimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientSynthetic Wax
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingEuphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSilica
Abrasive
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingMagnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Silica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
1,5-Pentanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mica, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Isododecane, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Silica, CI 77499, CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, Polyglutamic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Stearate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Squalane, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sucrose Cocoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, 1,5-Pentanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate is derived from cetearyl alcohol and sorbic acid.
It is an emollient and helps hydrate the skin. Emollients form a barrier on the skin to prevent water from escaping.
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
