What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 1%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Propanediol
Solvent
Isododecane
EmollientTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Caprylic Acid
CleansingCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSalicylic Acid 1%, Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Silica, Propanediol, Isododecane, Tranexamic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Acetyl Glucosamine, Tromethamine, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Capryloyl Glycine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic Acid, CI 77288, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Isododecane
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentMorus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Trehalose
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Beeswax, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Methylpropanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Arginine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Methyl Trimethicone, Adenosine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isododecane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Punica Granatum Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Trehalose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Madecassoside, Pentylene Glycol, Caramel, CI 19140, CI 42090, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinIsododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.
As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.
Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.
Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.
The chemical name for this ingredient is 2,2,4,6,6-PENTAMETHYLHEPTANE.
Learn more about IsododecaneWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
