What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dimethicone
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingDipotassium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arbutin, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Mandelic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Tocopherol, Ceteareth-12, Lecithin, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Disodium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Polymethyl Methacrylate
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
4-Butylresorcinol
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Niacin
Smoothing
Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingDiacetyl Boldine
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-20/6 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Sodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingBHA
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Triisopropanolamine
BufferingHydrochloric Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Citronellyl Methylcrotonate
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Isoeugenol
Perfuming
Water, Propylene Glycol, Lecithin, Alcohol, Polymethyl Methacrylate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 4-Butylresorcinol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Retinol, Azelaic Acid, Niacin, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Morus Alba Root Extract, Diacetyl Boldine, PEG/PPG-20/6 Dimethicone, Sodium Cholate, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, BHA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Triisopropanolamine, Hydrochloric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Limonene, Isoeugenol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycyrrhetinic acid is a compound found in licorice. It has skin conditioning, skin soothing, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties.
Not only is this a great ingredient for soothing inflammation, studies show this compound is effective at protecting skin against UV-B induced damage.
Fun fact: This ingredient is also used to mask the bitter taste of medicine.
Learn more about Glycyrrhetinic AcidLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Some other names for this ingredient include soy lecithin and deoiled soy lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
