What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Sorbeth-230 Tetraoleate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Niacinamide, Decyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sorbitan Laurate, Propanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Benzoyl Peroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Lavandula Hybrida Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingPropanediol
Solvent
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingBenzoyl Peroxide, Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Propanediol, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium 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
