What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycolic Acid
BufferingLactic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
BufferingFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningTartaric Acid
BufferingPyruvic Acid
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantCitric Acid
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Benzalkonium Chloride
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Faex Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Tartaric Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Benzalkonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Isododecane
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Lysate Extract
HumectantSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialPolyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSoy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingTin Oxide
AbrasivePolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingLaureth-12
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
CleansingSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBHT
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantMica
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Isododecane, Acetyl Glucosamine, Faex Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Caffeine, Mandelic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Soy Amino Acids, Phosphatidylcholine, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Tin Oxide, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-12, Polysorbate 80, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77891, Mica
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAWe don't have a description for Faex Extract yet.
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 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.
Salicylic 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 AcidSodium 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