What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate
EmollientQuaternium-91
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Isododecane
EmollientCetyl Esters
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Guar
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone PEG-7 Isostearate
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
PEG-7 Amodimethicone
Humectant
PEG-45m
HumectantAmodimethicone
Disodium EDTA
Polysilicone-15
UV Filter
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
C11-15 Pareth-7
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
C12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingC12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingVitis Vinifera
MaskingVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-9
EmulsifyingTrideceth-12
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract
Skin Conditioning
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Acetic Acid
BufferingSodium Acetate
BufferingTocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate
Antioxidant
Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate
Humectant
Pseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Quaternium-95
UV AbsorberPropanediol
Solvent
Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8
HumectantBis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Palmitoyl Myristyl Serinate
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCitral
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
PEG-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4 Dilaurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4
HumectantEtidronic Acid
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Octyldodecyl Ricinoleate, Quaternium-91, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Isododecane, Cetyl Esters, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Phospholipids, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Dimethicone PEG-7 Isostearate, Glycine Soja Oil, PEG-7 Amodimethicone, PEG-45m, Amodimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Polysilicone-15, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, C11-15 Pareth-7, Sodium Polyacrylate, C12-13 Pareth-3, C12-13 Pareth-23, Vitis Vinifera, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Laureth-9, Trideceth-12, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Acetic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate, Pseudozyma Epicola/Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Ferment Extract Filtrate, Pseudozyma Epicola/Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Ferment Filtrate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Quaternium-95, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, PEG-8, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, Punica Granatum Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Myristyl Serinate, BHT, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Biotin, Citral, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Chlorphenesin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, PEG-4 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, PEG-4, Etidronic Acid
Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Zinc Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Copernicia Cerifera Cera
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingMica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77510
Cosmetic Colorant
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
