What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zinc Oxide 19%
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Cetearyl Nonanoate
EmollientEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Magnesium Sulfate
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingIsostearic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCitrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Eschscholzia Californica Leaf Cell Extract
Skin ProtectingMentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingZinc Oxide 19%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate, Cetearyl Nonanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Magnesium Sulfate, Beeswax, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Decylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Eschscholzia Californica Leaf Cell Extract, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
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
