What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 3%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingGlycol Distearate
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingSodium Gluconate
ChelatingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSalicylic Acid 3%, Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Glycol Distearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium PCA, Lactic Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Panthenol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Caramel, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Charcoal Powder, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Biotin, Hyaluronic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingTrametes Versicolor Extract
Bambusa Arundinacea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientLinum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
PerfumingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
ChelatingPunica Granatum Fruit Juice
MaskingGlycol Distearate
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
MaskingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingWater, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Bambusa Arundinacea Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Punica Granatum Fruit Juice, Glycol Distearate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.
That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.
This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.
Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateSodium Gluconate is the sodium salt of gluconic acid. In skincare, its main job is as a chelator.
Chelators grab onto stray metal ions like iron and copper that sneak in through water, raw materials, or manufacturing equipment. This stops them from triggering reactions that cause oils to go rancid, formulas to change color, and actives like vitamin C to fall apart.
This ingredient is often chosen as a biodegradable, gentler-sounding alternative to EDTA. It also pulls double duty as a mild humectant and pH buffer.
Typical use levels sit around 0.1-1% and supplier documents list up to 10% as an acceptable ceiling. Industry data found this ingredient family is mostly used well below 1% in leave on products.
Allergy risk is very low; animal testing has found it to be non-irritating to skin and eyes, mutagenicity assays came back negative, and there are no published reports of allergic contact dermatitis to it.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateWater. 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