What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingCeteareth-20
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
HumectantGlycolic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingCeramide Ng
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveBenzoyl Peroxide 2.5%, Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Sodium Citrate, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Ceramide Ng, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCoco-Betaine
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantGlycine Soja Peptide
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialAsiaticoside
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingDextrin
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Gluconolactone
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Glycine Soja Peptide, Butylene Glycol, Hedera Helix Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Citric Acid, Dextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Maltodextrin, Disodium EDTA, Gluconolactone, Madecassoside, CI 42090, CI 19140
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateThis gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateWater. 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