What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Carrageenan
Glucose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-75 Stearate
Surfactant
Ceteth-20
CleansingSteareth-20
CleansingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingSuperoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Sodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Acrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer
MoisturisingParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Polysorbate 85
Emulsifying
Methylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Butylparaben
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Phytonadione Epoxide
AstringentWater, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Carrageenan, Glucose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-75 Stearate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Glycine Soja Protein, Superoxide Dismutase, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Acrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polysorbate 85, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Phytonadione Epoxide
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
