What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sulfur 10%
Antiseborrhoeic
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Kaolin
Abrasive
Bentonite
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sorbitol
Humectant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Sulfur 10%, Water, Glycerin, Kaolin, Bentonite, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Sorbitol, CI 77891, Phenoxyethanol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, CI 77288, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Benzoic 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.
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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
