What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 0.5%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
PPG-10 Cetyl Ether
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid 0.5%, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, PPG-10 Cetyl Ether, Bis-Phenylpropyl Dimethicone, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Glycerin, Isoceteth-20, Polyacrylamide, Cetearyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Parfum, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Achillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentEchinacea Purpurea Root Extract
MoisturisingHippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Germ Oil
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Emollient
Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPrunus Armeniaca Juice
MoisturisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Salvia Sclarea Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
AbsorbentCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningInulin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Undecane
EmollientTridecane
Perfuming
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Methylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Glucoside
Propanediol
Solvent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Citrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEmblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAdansonia Digitata Fruit Extract
EmollientMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cocos Nucifera Water
Masking
Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Juice, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Zea Mays Germ Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Water, Prunus Armeniaca Juice, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Stearic Acid, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Inulin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Salicylic Acid, Undecane, Tridecane, Cetearyl Glucoside, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Heptyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Juice, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetearyl Glucoside is a sugar-based emulsifier. It is usually made by combining cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Belonging to the aklyl polyglucoside (APG) family, Cetearyl Glucoside has a sugar "head" that loves water and a fatty "tail" that loves oil. This means it can shuffle oil and water into a stable and smooth emulsion.
Typical use levels are between 1-5% and this ingredient is considered to be non-irritating by the CIR Expert Panel Review.
Once applied, your skin's glucoside hydrolases breaks it down to the parent fatty alcohol and glucose. This is why this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, itβs still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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
