What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingZingiber Officinale Root Oil
MaskingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Extract
EmollientHeptyl Glucoside
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Glycerin, Biotin, Panthenol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Charcoal Powder, Mentha Piperita Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Menthyl Lactate, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Heptyl Glucoside, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Glycine Soja Oil
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingMenthol
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingTriticum Vulgare Germ Oil
EmollientCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
EmollientBenzyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantApium Graveolens Seed Extract
AntioxidantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCholecalciferol
Ascorbic Acid
AntioxidantOcimum Basilicum Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingSalvia Officinalis Oil
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveUrtica Dioica Extract
AstringentGlycine Soja Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Menthol, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Benzyl Nicotinate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biotin, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Glycerin, Apium Graveolens Seed Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Cholecalciferol, Ascorbic Acid, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Silica, Urtica Dioica Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.
Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.
More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.
Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.
Learn more about BiotinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinThis 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 OilThis essential oil is steam-distilled from peppermint leaves, also known as peppermint oil. It's mainly used for scent in skincare but also provides that signature "cooling" sensation.
Peppermint oil is a "feels amazing" ingredient until it doesn't.
At higher doses or for those with sensitive skin, methol-type cooling can quickly turn into burning/irritation. It can also trigger irritant dermatitis or even allergic contact dermatitis. In a large patch-test dataset, peppermint oil had a low but positive rate for this.
In cosmetics, Cosmetic Safety Reviews (CIR) concludes that peppermint oil is safe to use when formulated to be non-sensitizing with some restrictions; for instance, pulegone, a naturally occurring component of peppermint oil, should not exceed 1%.
Since peppermint oil contains fragrance allergens such as limonene, linalool, and menthol, it can be sensitizing for those with rosacea, eczema, a broken skin barrier, or just sensitive skin in general.
In Japan, this ingredient is known as Hakka Yu.
Learn more about Mentha Piperita OilTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate