This oil-control exfoliator is formulated around Salix Alba Bark Extract to balance excess oil.
This acne serum is formulated around Niacinamide and 4-Terpineol to clear breakouts and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeArctium Lappa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningChrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract
CleansingCodonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Extract
AntiseborrhoeicPolyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Extract
CleansingPhytosterols
Skin ConditioningIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
PerfumingSodium Gluconate
ChelatingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantEpilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingAdansonia Digitata Pulp Extract
EmollientSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantWater, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Sinense Flower Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract, Hovenia Dulcis Fruit Extract, Magnolia Kobus Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Mentha Piperita Extract, Phytosterols, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Mentha Piperita Oil, Panthenol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Adansonia Digitata Pulp Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMonarda Didyma Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Aquatica Extract
TonicSasa Quelpaertensis Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningCinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract
MaskingCryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract
HumectantPinus Pinaster Bark/Bud Extract
AntimicrobialRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingChamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingTrehalose
HumectantOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningFructooligosaccharides
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant4-Terpineol
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root
EmollientMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
EmollientGlycolic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract, Mentha Aquatica Extract, Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark/Bud Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Trehalose, Octyldodeceth-16, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Ceramide NP, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, 4-Terpineol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinLaminaria Japonica Extract is an extract of Japanese kelp, the same brown seaweed sold as kombu.
This ingredient is usually extracted from dried, ground kelp with water or a water/glycol mix. Most of what ends up in your bottle is mostly big sugar molecules, minerals, and amino acids rather than oils.
Those sugars help hold water and form a light film on the skin's surface, giving it humectant and mild-barrier supporting properties.
The best human data is a small Korean study where a cream with 10% extract upped skin hydration about 14% over placebo and cut water loss through the skin for up to eight hours.
Beyond this study, most of the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory claims come from mouse and cell studies; these studies found that topical kelp sugars preserved collagen in aging mice and the extract calmed UVB-triggered inflammation markers in cultured skin cells.
Though this sounds promising, it isn't the same as proof on human faces.
Industry data shows this ingredient is usually used anywhere from 0.0005% - 5%. Most leave-on products sit well under 1% and the 5% end mostly shows up in bath products.
Allergy-risk for this ingredient looks low as well. A cream with 10% extract patch-tested on 25 people caused no irritation and there have been no sensitization reports either.
There is one real allergy report on "laminaria" that involves medical cervical dilators made from whole dried kelp stems inserted internally; though this is a very different exposure from a few tenths of a percent in a serum.
Learn more about Laminaria Japonica ExtractWater. 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