What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Parfum
Masking
Tetrasodium EDTA
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Glucosamine Hcl
Urea
Buffering
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientSorbitol
Humectant
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Emollient
Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Thymus Vulgaris Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Isohexadecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Glucosamine Hcl, Urea, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Algae Extract, Sorbitol, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Linalool, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Thymus Vulgaris Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbic Acid
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
