What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
4-Terpineol
Masking
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Citric Acid, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Methylpropanediol, Allantoin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, 4-Terpineol, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Salicylic Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingChondrus Crispus
Masking
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Propanediol
Solvent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrehalose
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Hydrated Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Escin
TonicSorbitol
Humectant
Threonine
Arginine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Chondrus Crispus, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Potassium Cocoate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacrylate, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Decylene Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Hydrated Silica, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Chondrus Crispus Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Escin, Sorbitol, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Serine, Proline, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Phenoxyethanol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gluconolactone, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate
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
