What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Activated Clay
AbsorbentWater
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Hydroxide
BufferingArginine
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Glycine
Buffering
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Trisiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolydecene
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Algae Extract
Emollient
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Succinate
Antioxidant
Niacin
Smoothing
Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningPhytic Acid
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Camelina Sativa Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil
Antioxidant
Spirulina Platensis Powder
Skin ProtectingSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Crithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex
Antioxidant
Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Tourmaline
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Thermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Camphor
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Yeast Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlucosamine Hcl
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Lecithin
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 61565
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Alcohol Denat., Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycerin, Trisiloxane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Sodium Citrate, Polydecene, Gluconolactone, Algae Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Phytic Acid, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil, Spirulina Platensis Powder, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tourmaline, Beta-Carotene, Caffeine, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Paraffinum Liquidum, Camphor, Sodium Hyaluronate, Yeast Extract, Zea Mays Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Glucosamine Hcl, Alcohol, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Eugenol, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 42090, CI 14700, CI 19140, CI 61565
Alternatives
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 GlycolGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural āglueā that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (thatās where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But donāt skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless youāre highly sensitive, itās well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
