What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientOctocrylene
UV Absorber
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningDibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Epilobium Angustifolium Extract
Skin ConditioningAverrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Boswellia Carterii Oil
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Masking
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Octyldodecanol, Diisostearyl Malate, Octocrylene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Silica Silylate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Averrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Water, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
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
