What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Quercus Alba Bark Extract
AstringentCitrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Tilia Cordata Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Quercus Alba Bark Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Arginine, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract, Allantoin, BHT, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Amyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Parfum, CI 16035, CI 19140
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sucrose Laurate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Glyceryl Behenate
Emollient
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
PEG-8 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Squalene
Emollient
Citrus Tangerina Peel
Abrasive
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Tanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Laurate, Jojoba Esters, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Glyceryl Behenate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, PEG-8 Beeswax, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Squalene, Citrus Tangerina Peel, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Tanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Moringa Oil/Hydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Alternatives
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
