What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Methylpropanediol
SolventSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningArctium Majus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSaponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDextrin
AbsorbentNiacinamide
Smoothing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
Masking
Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Protease
Exfoliating
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Methylpropanediol, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Sodium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Cellulose Gum, Dextrin, Niacinamide, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Zea Mays Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Protease, Lactobionic Acid, Superoxide Dismutase
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Methyl Isethionate
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sodium Laurate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Water, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Methyl Isethionate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Lauric Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, 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
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
