What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Triethanolamine
BufferingLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Coceth-7
EmulsifyingPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Escin
TonicGlycerin
Humectant
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAgave Americana Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFouquieria Splendens Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLarrea Tridentata Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningYucca Brevifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Protein
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Propylene Glycol, Mandelic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Triethanolamine, Lactobionic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Escin, Glycerin, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Abronia Villosa Leaf Extract, Agave Americana Stem Extract, Fouquieria Splendens Stem Extract, Larrea Tridentata Extract, Oenothera Biennis Root Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Flower Extract, Yucca Brevifolia Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
4-Terpineol
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Arctium Majus Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingNasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHedera Helix Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDenatonium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Polysorbate 20, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycerin, 4-Terpineol, Panthenol, Sodium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, T-Butyl Alcohol, Arctium Majus Root Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract, Hedera Helix Leaf Extract, Denatonium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.
As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.
Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.
This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.
A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSalicylic 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, itβs 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 AcidWater. 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
