What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Polyquaternium-7
Polyquaternium-10
Zinc Pyrithione
Antiseborrhoeic
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Quinoa
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Squalane, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, Zinc Pyrithione, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDistearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingLepidium Meyenii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Tropaeolum Majus Extract
AntimicrobialCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Alanyl Glutamine
HumectantArginine
Masking
Oligopeptide-177
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Phenylalanine
Masking
Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
Masking
Water, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Erythritol, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phytate, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Sodium Hydroxide, Lepidium Meyenii Root Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Tropaeolum Majus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Tocopherol, Sorbic Acid, Alanyl Glutamine, Arginine, Oligopeptide-177, Sodium Chloride, Phenylalanine, Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the tea plant. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from this plant.
This ingredient has many skin benefits:
This ingredient contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off molecules that damage skin cells.
On top of that, the antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.
Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory properties.
Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.
Other compounds found in tea include: Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.
Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
