What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDiphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingAronia Arbutifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Serine
Masking
Alanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Water, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cocos Nucifera Water, Disodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Sodium Phosphate, Phosphatidylcholine, Aronia Arbutifolia Extract, Ceramide NP, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Serine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Proline, Threonine
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, CI 42090, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol 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
