What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
No benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientPolyisobutene
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Dextrin Palmitate
Emulsifying
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
UV Filter
Ethylhexyl Triazone
UV Absorber
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
Astringent
Aroma
Stearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Rosinate
Perfuming
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalene
Emollient
Portulaca Pilosa Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialPEG-8 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingOctyldodeceth-25
CleansingPropylene Carbonate
SolventTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Lecithin
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Decylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Magnesium Hydroxide
AbsorbentAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
CI 77120
Cosmetic ColorantPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Stevioside
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vanillin
Masking
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantCI 15850
Cosmetic ColorantDiisostearyl Malate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Polyisobutene, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Dextrin Palmitate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, Aroma, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Microcrystalline Wax, Glyceryl Rosinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Carnosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalene, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PEG-8 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Octyldodeceth-25, Propylene Carbonate, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Octyldodecanol, Beta-Sitosterol, Lecithin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Decylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Hydroxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sorbitan Oleate, Stearic Acid, Sucrose Cocoate, CI 77120, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stevioside, Phenoxyethanol, Vanillin, CI 77891, CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499, CI 15850
Polybutene
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientSilica Dimethyl Silylate
EmollientCalcium Sodium Borosilicate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Polyurethane-11
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
CI 77000
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPolybutene, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Polyurethane-11, Tin Oxide, CI 77000, CI 77891
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
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
