What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Disiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether
SolventSalicylic Acid
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Saccharomyces/Honey Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disiloxane, Glycerin, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces/Honey Ferment Filtrate, Sodium PCA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Panthenol
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
PEG-8
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Trehalose
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
CleansingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium PCA
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, PEG-8, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Trehalose, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Sodium Benzoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium PCA, Salicylic Acid, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Salicylic 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 AcidSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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
