What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningHomosalate
Skin Conditioning
Isotridecyl Isononanoate
EmollientZinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Chloride
MaskingTribehenin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Michelia Alba Flower Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Jasminum Officinale Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCrataegus Oxyacantha Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantLycium Chinense Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Bakuchiol, Ascorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Homosalate, Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Zinc Oxide, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77492, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Arbutin, Synthetic Beeswax, CI 77491, CI 77499, Sodium Chloride, Tribehenin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Michelia Alba Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Jasminum Officinale Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bacillus Ferment, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Crataegus Oxyacantha Fruit Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Disiloxane
Skin Conditioning
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Methicone
Emollient
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
EmollientIsopropyl Titanium Triisostearate
Emollient
Boron Nitride
Absorbent
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lauryl PCA
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Iron Oxides
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Disiloxane, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methicone, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Boron Nitride, Jojoba Esters, Squalane, Magnesium Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lauryl PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Iron Oxides, CI 77891
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
