What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Apigenin
Antioxidant
Oleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialLactic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caffeine, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Apigenin, Oleanolic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Calcium Gluconate, Zinc Chloride, Lactic Acid, Gluconolactone, Dextran, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantBacopa Monnieri Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantTribulus Terrestris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningStereospermum Suaveolens Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Xanthocarpum Root Extract
MaskingSolanum Indicum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPremna Serratifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Gmelina Arborea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDesmodium Gangeticum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAegle Marmelos Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualene
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Parfum, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Bacopa Monnieri Leaf Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Tribulus Terrestris Root Extract, Stereospermum Suaveolens Root Extract, Solanum Xanthocarpum Root Extract, Solanum Indicum Root Extract, Premna Serratifolia Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, Gmelina Arborea Root Extract, Desmodium Gangeticum Root Extract, Aegle Marmelos Root Extract, Squalene, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Salicylate, Isoeugenol, Linalool
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 Phenoxyethanol
