What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMangifera Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Peel Extract
Astringent
Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract
AstringentCitrus Clementina Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract
MaskingGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Juniperus Virginiana Wood Extract
Perfuming
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningQuartz
Abrasive
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Arginine, Citrus Medica Vulgaris Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract, Citrus Clementina Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Juniperus Virginiana Wood Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Quartz, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700
Reviews
Alternatives
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
