What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract 32.8%
Perfuming
Water
Skin ConditioningMentha Haplocalix Extract
MaskingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicBetaine
Humectant
Hyssopus Officinalis Extract
MaskingTrigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyquaternium-10
Limonene
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Malt Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Sodium Acetate
BufferingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract 32.8%, Water, Mentha Haplocalix Extract, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Chloride, Lauryl Glucoside, Salicylic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Panthenol, Biotin, Betaine, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Caffeine, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Limonene, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Malt Extract, Glycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Acetate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Isoamyl Laurate
Emollient
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Tussilago Farfara Flower Extract
AstringentAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAlthaea Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isoamyl Laurate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Betaine, Propanediol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Tussilago Farfara Flower Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Althaea Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsopropyl Alcohol is more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. It is most commonly used as a solvent, meaning it helps other ingredients dissolve.
This ingredient is an astringent alcohol. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin as they high amounts may strip away your skin's natural oils.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Isopropyl AlcoholThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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
