What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ammonium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCedrus Atlantica Bark Extract
Perfuming
Cetyl Lactate
EmollientCinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract
Antimicrobial
Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dehydroxanthan Gum
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Phenethyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylamide
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
PPG-2 Isoceteth-20 Acetate
EmulsifyingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Propylparaben
Preservative
Sarcosine
Skin Conditioning
Sd Alcohol 40-B
Astringent
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Tetrasodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid 2%, Alcohol, Ammonium Hydroxide, Benzalkonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Capryloyl Glycine, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Extract, Cetyl Lactate, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Laureth-7, Methylparaben, Parfum, Phenethyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polysorbate 20, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, PPG-2 Isoceteth-20 Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Sarcosine, Sd Alcohol 40-B, T-Butyl Alcohol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Water
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMilk Protein Extract
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyquaternium-7
Ethyl Hexanediol
SolventParfum
Masking
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water
TonicOriganum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientHedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract
Tonic1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicSalicylic Acid
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Royal Jelly Extract
Skin Conditioning
PCA
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Malic Acid
Buffering
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Pyruvic Acid
MaskingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingGlutathione
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Milk Protein Extract, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Beeswax, Polyquaternium-7, Ethyl Hexanediol, Parfum, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Biotin, Salicylic Acid, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lactic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Royal Jelly Extract, PCA, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Malic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Pyruvic Acid, Tocopherol, Tartaric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glutathione, Hydroxycitronellal
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSalicylic 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 Water
