What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Diatomaceous Earth
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propanediol
Solvent
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Camphor
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Rutin
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxycinnamic Acid
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Salicylic Acid, Water, Kaolin, Diatomaceous Earth, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethyl Linoleate, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Kojic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Camphor, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide NP, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bakuchiol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Rutin, Glycerin, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Bentonite
Absorbent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingArginine
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Citronellol
Perfuming
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantGeraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Microcrystalline Cellulose, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Bentonite, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Citral, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citronellol, CI 77492, Geraniol, Linalool, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Maltodextrin, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Oil, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Sodium Citrate, Limonene
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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
