What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHoney
Humectant
Zymomonas Ferment Extract
HumectantMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialAstragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
Emollient
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Trehalose
Humectant
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningWater, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Honey, Zymomonas Ferment Extract, Maltodextrin, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Olivate, Propanediol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Sodium PCA, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Lactate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Spilanthes Acmella Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Betaine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Triethylene Glycol, Ectoin, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Trehalose, Heptyl Undecylenate, Sodium Gluconate
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
