What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRumex Crispus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAesculus Hippocastanum Bark Extract
AstringentAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSaponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Borago Officinalis Extract
Emollient
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract
Skin ProtectingParfum
Masking
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Alcohol Denat., PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Ethoxydiglycol, Butylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglutamic Acid, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, Rumex Crispus Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Bark Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Borago Officinalis Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Parfum, Hydroxycitronellal
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
