What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Isododecane, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Lactobacillus Ferment, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tocopherol, Sodium Phytate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Benzophenone-4, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140, CI 15985, Parfum, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin
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
