What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantMyristic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauric Acid
CleansingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientGlycol Distearate
EmollientGlycol Stearate
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantPanax Notoginseng Root Extract
HumectantParfum
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMalpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Laureth-7, Palmitic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Glycol Stearate, PEG-8, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Sorbitan Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Panax Notoginseng Root Extract, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, CI 14700
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCoconut Acid
CleansingPropanediol
SolventCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingStearic Acid
CleansingCI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Isethionate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantSodium Chloride
MaskingSorbitol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArachidic Acid
CleansingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingMica
Cosmetic ColorantMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
CleansingOleic Acid
EmollientSodium Lactate
BufferingVolcanic Ash
AbrasiveCitric Acid
BufferingSodium PCA
HumectantMontmorillonite
AbsorbentMalic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingPyruvic Acid
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingTartaric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coconut Acid, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Stearic Acid, CI 77004, Sodium Isethionate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Palmitic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Chloride, Sorbitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Arachidic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Mica, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Myristic Acid, Oleic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Volcanic Ash, Citric Acid, Sodium PCA, Montmorillonite, Malic Acid, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Tartaric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic 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