What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Cyclotetrasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
CleansingHypnea Musciformis Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
Humectant
Sargassum Filipendula Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbitol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Skin ProtectingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Coffea Arabica Seed Oil
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Algin
Masking
Carrageenan
Chitosan
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Cyclotetrasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Water, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Glycerin, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Sorbitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Algin, Carrageenan, Chitosan, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sorbitan Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
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
