What's inside

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Show highlights for:

Water

Skin Conditioning

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyethylene

Abrasive
Exfoliant Icon

Hexylene Glycol

Emulsifying
0-2 / 0-1

Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate

Cleansing

Disodium Oleamido Mipa-Sulfosuccinate

Cleansing

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

Absorbent
0 / 0

Salicylic Acid

Masking
BHA IconPreservative IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Menthol

Masking
May worsen Eczema IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Rosacea IconEU Allergen Icon

Stearamidoethyl Diethylamine

Oleamide Mipa

Trisodium Sulfosuccinate

Buffering

Sodium Sulfate

Sulfate Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Methylisothiazolinone

Preservative
Preservative IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay cause irritation Icon

CI 77891

Cosmetic Colorant

Ethylhexyl Salicylate

UV Absorber
0 / 0 UV Protection IconChemical UV Filter IconMay worsen Rosacea IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Methyl Trimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Homosalate

Skin Conditioning
UV Protection IconChemical UV Filter IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Benzophenone-3

UV Absorber
0 / 0 UV Protection IconChemical UV Filter IconMay cause irritation IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Butyloctyl Salicylate

Skin Conditioning
Non-Reef-Safe Icon

Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate

Emollient

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

UV Absorber
UV Protection IconChemical UV Filter IconMay cause irritation IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Octocrylene

UV Absorber
UV Protection IconChemical UV Filter IconMay worsen Eczema IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon

PEG-100 Stearate

0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Silica

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Dipentaerythrityl Tri-Polyhydroxystearate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract

Antimicrobial

Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract

Tonic

Plankton Extract

Skin Conditioning

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning
Helps with Anti-Aging IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Emulsifying

Sucrose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer

C30-38 Olefin/Isopropyl Maleate/Ma Copolymer

Emulsifying

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Vp/Eicosene Copolymer

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

PEG-8 Laurate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Rna

Skin Conditioning

Lecithin

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Propyl Gallate

Antioxidant
Fragrance IconAntioxidant Icon

Arginine Ferulate

Skin Conditioning

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient
Fatty Alcohol Icon

Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness Icon

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Disodium EDTA

Mica

Cosmetic Colorant
May worsen Eczema Icon

Sodium Dehydroacetate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Reviews

4.64
Overall rating
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What people say
Works Well 63% Expensive 38% No Scent 25%
1.00
Overall rating
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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

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 Acid
Preservative

This ingredient is a preservative with antimicrobial properties. It is the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid.

It is especially effective at preventing bacterial and fungal growth in low concentrations.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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

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