What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Glycolic Acid 5%
Buffering
Lactic Acid 5%
Buffering
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Citrus Grandis Peel Extract
Astringent
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium EDTA
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Preservative
Methylisothiazolinone
Preservative
Salicylic Acid 2%, Glycolic Acid 5%, Lactic Acid 5%, Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Citrus Grandis Peel Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Menthyl Lactate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPullulan
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sea Salt
Abrasive
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Menthoxypropanediol
Masking
Stevioside
MaskingCarrageenan
Disodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Potassium Laurate
EmulsifyingWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pullulan, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Algae Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Plankton Extract, Tocopherol, Sea Salt, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium PCA, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Menthoxypropanediol, Stevioside, Carrageenan, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Potassium Laurate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideThis extract comes from cucumber. Cucumbers are mostly made up of water (95%), and the other 5% is composed of: vitamin C, caffeic acid, fatty acids, amino acids, and other minerals.
Cucumbers have anti-inflammatory, barrier repair, and hydrating properties.
They contain shikimate dehydrigenase, an enzyme shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin.
The amino acids found in cucumbers help nourish our skin's natural acid mantle (it's an important part of our skin barrier). This slightly acidic film acts as a barrier to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants.
Unless you have an allergy to cucumbers, this is generally a non-irritating ingredient.
Fun fact: Cucumis Sativus is native to South Asia and can now be found on every continent.
Learn more about Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
