What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Ceramide Complex
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Gluconate, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Ceramide Complex, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Sodium Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
BHA
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Adansonia Digitata Oil
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Humectant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Water, Propylene Glycol, Isopropyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Sodium Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Lauryl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Alcohol, Glyceryl Oleate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, BHA, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hexapeptide-11, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Adansonia Digitata Oil, Caffeine, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Ubiquinone
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
