What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Succinic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Pullulan
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Silica
Abrasive
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid 2%, Water, Isopentyldiol, Squalane, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Mandelic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Succinic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Xanthan Gum, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Silica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantGlycolic Acid
Buffering
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCarum Petroselinum Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Minutissima Extract
Skin ConditioningMalus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine Salicylate
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Water, Butylene Glycol, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Glycolic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Carum Petroselinum Extract, Chlorella Minutissima Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Malachite Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 AllantoinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
