What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
Cleansing
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Succinic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Pantolactone
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Succinic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pantolactone, Polysorbate 20, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
DMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Zinc PCA, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Parfum, Propylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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 WaterZinc PCA is a clever two-in-one molecule: the zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA).
Think of it as two useful things bonded together; the PCA half is one of your skin's own natural moisturizing factors (NMF) so it helps hold water in the upper layers. On the other hand, the zinc half does the heavy lifting on oil and bacteria.
The zinc part slows down an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that tells your oil glands to pump out more sebum. Less of that signal means less oil. It also gently fights acne-causing bacteria and soothes redness/irritation.
This is why Zinc PCA often shows up in products for oily, breakout-prone skin and greasy scalps.
One lab study also hinted it might have a small anti-aging perk because it seemed to protect collagen from UVA damage and even helped the skin make a bit more of it. That last bit is still early research done in a dish and not real skin, so take it as a nice bonus rather than a promise for now.
As for scar healing, the picture is more "maybe" than a firm yes. Zinc itself plays a real role in wound repair because it is a cofactor for the enzymes involved in collagen building, calming inflammation, and helping new skin cells cover a wound. Lower zinc levels are also linked to slower healing.
Most of the scar healing research is on zinc oxide or oral zinc rather than zinc PCA specifically, with a focus on healing fresh wounds instead of scars that are already there.
Direct evidence that zinc PCA improves the look of established scars is still limited at this time. Though it would be fair to say zinc PCA supports the general skin-repair environment thanks to its zinc content .
This ingredient is water-soluble and plays nicely with other actives like niacinamide and salicylic acid. It works best at mildly acidic formulas (~4-6 pH) and is effective at low levels. Around 0.1% is enough to be active and finished products commonly use it anywhere up to 4%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-drama multitasker that suits oily and acne-prone skin.
Learn more about Zinc PCA
