What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 1.8%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCeresin
Emulsion StabilisingParaffin
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientHdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Tromethamine
BufferingLauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingZinc PCA
HumectantKaolin
AbrasiveSilica
AbrasiveOryza Sativa Bran Wax
Skin ConditioningTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77288
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSalicylic Acid 1.8%, Water, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ceresin, Paraffin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tromethamine, Lauryl PEG-10 Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Zinc PCA, Kaolin, Silica, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, CI 77288, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPolysilicone-11
Glycereth-26
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
EmulsifyingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingXylitylglucoside
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantXylitol
HumectantSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentGlycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
AntioxidantBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isododecane, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Polysilicone-11, Glycereth-26, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Methicone, Polysorbate 80, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Menthyl Lactate, Xylitylglucoside, Butylene Glycol, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Saccharide Isomerate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 17200, CI 19140
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 GlycerinTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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