What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Surfactin
CleansingSodium Citrate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Citral
Perfuming
Fructose
Humectant
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Linalool, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Gluconolactone, Inulin, Mandelic Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Surfactin, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citral, Fructose, Hexyl Cinnamal, Panthenol
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPropanediol
Solvent
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
2-Methyl 5-Cyclohexylpentanol
Skin ConditioningDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mandelic Acid, Triethyl Citrate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Salicylic Acid, 2-Methyl 5-Cyclohexylpentanol, Decylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Nonapeptide-1, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseMandelic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).
Like other AHAs, it helps exfoliate the surface of the skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
Mandelic acid helps with:
Due to it having a larger molecular size than glycolic acid, mandelic acid is able to penetrate the skin more slowly and evenly. This makes it gentler and less irritating, making it a great option for sensitive or beginner skin.
Despite being milder, mandelic acid is still an effective exfoliant that improves skin texture and tone over time.
What makes mandelic acid stand out from other AHAs? It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
These traits make it a great option for acne-prone or problem skin by reducing active breakouts and fading post-acne marks. Studies show that mandelic acid (especially when combined with salicylic acid) can significantly reduce pimples and hyperpigmentation while causing fewer side effects than stronger acids.
Mandelic acid is effective in concentrations of 5% and up with an ideal pH range of 3-4 for at-home use.
Like other AHAs, it’s important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your newly exfoliated skin.
However, unlike glycolic acid, mandelic acid is light-sensitive. Be sure your mandelic acid is packaged in opaque containers to ensure it stays stable and effective.
In short, mandelic acid is a gentle yet powerful AHA that exfoliates, brightens, and helps clarify skin while keeping irritation low. Its antibacterial action makes it especially beneficial for those with acne-prone, sensitive, or uneven skin, offering smoother, clearer, and more even-toned results over time.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Mandelic AcidPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSalicylic 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 AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSodium PCA (the salt of PCA) is one of the most well-established humectants in skincare.
Why is it so special? Your skin already makes it naturally; it's a natural component of your skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), or the mix of water-binding compounds inside your skin cells that keeps things soft and hydrated.
As a cosmetic ingredient, it grabs water and holds it in the upper layers of skin to smooth roughness and ease dehydration.
There's some clinical support for the NMF approach with a study showing that a cream built to mimic the skin's NMF significantly boosted hydration.
Safety-wise, this ingredient non-irritating, non-comedogenic, and non-phototoxic in testing, with minimal skin absorption.
It also works really well with other hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, and typical usage is somewhere between 0.2-4%.
Learn more about Sodium PCATriethyl Citrate comes from citric acid. It has masking, perfuming, and solvent properties. As a solvent, this ingredient helps disperse ingredients evenly in skincare.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient can:
According to perfume manufacturers, this ingredient is almost odorless but has a mild fruity, wine and plum scent. It can be used to mask the scent of other ingredients.
This ingredient can be plant-sourced or synthetic; it can naturally be found in cabbage and white wine.
Learn more about Triethyl CitrateWater. 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
