What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sucrose
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingArginine Cocoate
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCola Nitida Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
EmollientMentha Piperita Callus Lysate
Antioxidant
Sea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
PPG-6
Skin ConditioningDecyltetradeceth-30
CleansingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingLongifolene
MaskingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingPerillaldehyde
Masking
10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Beta-Caryophyllene
Masking
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearate
CleansingSodium Salicylate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chloroxylenol
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sucrose, Disodium Phosphate, Arginine Cocoate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Cola Nitida Seed Extract, Caffeine, Algae Extract, Mentha Piperita Callus Lysate, Sea Whip Extract, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, PPG-6, Decyltetradeceth-30, Lactobacillus Ferment, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Longifolene, Acetyl Glucosamine, Capryloyl Glycine, Perillaldehyde, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Beta-Caryophyllene, Phospholipids, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Salicylate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chloroxylenol
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingLauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-2
CleansingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Sodium Sulfate
Benzophenone-4
UV Absorber
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEDTA
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantGlycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Caffeine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Laureth-2, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Sulfate, Benzophenone-4, Sodium Hydroxide, EDTA, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, CI 42090
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin.
The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells.
When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.
Learn more about Acetyl GlucosamineButylene 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 GlycolCaffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.
As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.
Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.
You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.
Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.
Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.
Learn more about CaffeineDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Laminaria Saccharina Extract yet.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSucrose is a natural sugar found in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. It is the main constituent of white sugar.
In skincare, sucrose is a humectant and can be a mild exfoliant.
Sucrose is hydrophilic, meaning it attracts water. This makes it an effective humectant and helps hydrate the skin.
Studies show sugars may worsen acne-prone skin due to it disrupting the skin's natural biome. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
In some products such as body scrubs, sucrose is used as an gentle exfoliant.
The term 'sucrose' comes from the french word for sugar, 'sucre'.
Learn more about Sucrose
