What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Benzoyl Peroxide 5%
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingNiacinamide
SmoothingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningZinc PCA
HumectantLaureth-4
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningDiethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSambucus Nigra Fruit Juice
AstringentSpiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativeCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingSodium Sulfite
PreservativeBenzoyl Peroxide 5%, Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Carbomer, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Zinc PCA, Laureth-4, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Juice, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Sulfite
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Sodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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