What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 0.5%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingOctyldodecanol
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantErythritol
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingLavandula Hybrida Oil
EmollientCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingSalvia Sclarea Oil
MaskingHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin ConditioningMorinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLeptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil
TonicPhaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract
HumectantMagnolia Officinalis Bark Extract
AntimicrobialPiper Nigrum Seed Extract
RefreshingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingTocopherol
AntioxidantXylitol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientGlutamic Acid
HumectantPolyquaternium-80
CleansingDidecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic Acid
CleansingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingSalicylic Acid 0.5%, Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Octyldodecanol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Glycerin, Erythritol, Inulin, Cetearyl Olivate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil, Phaeodactylum Tricornutum Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Piper Nigrum Seed Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Xylitol, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Glutamic Acid, Polyquaternium-80, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Methylpropanediol, Sorbitan Olivate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Caprylic Acid, Linalool, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventTriethylhexanoin
MaskingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Glyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Pumpkin Seedcake
Skin ProtectingVaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingTripeptide-29
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientArginine
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingIsohexadecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethyl Macadamiate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, Hydrolyzed Pumpkin Seedcake, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Tripeptide-29, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Adenosine, Lecithin, Arginine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
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 causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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