What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Magnesium PCA
Humectant
Manganese PCA
HumectantUrea
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hexyl Nicotinate
EmollientLauryl Glucoside
CleansingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingDextrin
AbsorbentHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Squalane, C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glutamic Acid, Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, PCA, Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Magnesium PCA, Manganese PCA, Urea, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Isoceteth-20, Dextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Polyquaternium-37
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Quaternium-87
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Candelilla Cera
Emollient
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
PPG-1 Trideceth-6
Skin ConditioningChlorhexidine Digluconate
Antimicrobial
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Trideceth-6
EmulsifyingAcrylates Copolymer
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-11
Linalool
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin Conditioning2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Cetrimonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Iris Florentina Root Extract
MaskingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-37, Paraffinum Liquidum, Amodimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Quaternium-87, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Candelilla Cera, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trideceth-6, Acrylates Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Polyquaternium-11, Linalool, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Cetrimonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumarin, Limonene, Parfum
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
