What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Benzoyl Peroxide 4%
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycolic Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCholesterol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
MaskingBenzoyl Peroxide 4%, Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid
Salicylic Acid 0.5%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingHydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride
HumectantPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPhytic Acid
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientAllium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCamphor
MaskingMenthol
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
SoothingCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Archangelica Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingEchinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract
MoisturisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSilica
AbrasivePalmitic Acid
EmollientZinc PCA
HumectantKaolin
AbrasivePalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl PCA
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSalicylic Acid 0.5%, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Phytic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camphor, Menthol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polysorbate 80, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Angelica Archangelica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Silica, Palmitic Acid, Zinc PCA, Kaolin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl PCA, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Chances 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 ChlorideSodium 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water