What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea 30%
Buffering
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Decyl Oleate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin Conditioning
Arginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Alanine
Masking
Carnitine
Cleansing
Glycine
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDecylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Urea 30%, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Lactate, Decyl Oleate, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Arginine Hcl, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Alanine, Carnitine, Glycine, Lactic Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Chloride, Decylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningUrea
Buffering
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Triacetin
AntimicrobialSerine
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Histidine
Humectant
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Urea, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Panthenol, Silica, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Glucoside, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Triacetin, Serine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Histidine, Bacillus Ferment, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateUrea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Urea is actually one of the more well-studied and well-supported ingredients out there if you have eczema.
Clinical trials have shown that urea creams in the 5 - 10% range can:
Higher concentrations (20 -30%) can also help with thickened, scaly patches but is also more likely to sting on active flares.
Skip urea if you have rosacea. The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) lists it alongside alcohol, menthol, and fragrance as a potential irritant for rosacea-prone skin. Urea's keratolytic and penetration-enhancing properties can trigger stinging, burning, and redness.
As always, your skin is unique, so definitely check in with your dermatologist.
Learn more about UreaWater. 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
