What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingGlycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Squalane
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Tilia Cordata Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Geraniol
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Water, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Squalane, Caffeine, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Citric Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract
HumectantMicrocitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Microcitrus Australis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carrageenan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australis Fruit Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carrageenan, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Tocopherol
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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, it’s 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 AcidTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
