What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Glycolic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Azelaic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sorbic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Menthol
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Laureth-4
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTriethanolamine
BufferingParfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Panthenol, Menthol, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Bisabolol, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Polysorbate 20, Cetyl Alcohol, Laureth-4, Stearic Acid, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, 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.
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinThis tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the Tea Tree plant. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
According to the book Journal of Profiles of Drug Substances, tea tree helps in reducing acne-causing bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes. This is due to the Terpinen components of tea tree oil.
Tea tree may cause sensitivity and irritation for some people. This oil naturally contains fragrance such as linalool and limonene.
However, research shows irritation usually occurs when using pure tea tree oil and not in cosmetic products.
Tea tree oil was found to help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis in one study.
Tea tree oil is toxic when ingested. Another study showed it to caused damage to the nervous system of dogs and cats when applied to their skin or given orally.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
