What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Glycolate
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Salicylate
Preservative
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
CI 77289
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Glycolate, Salicylic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Salicylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, CI 77289
Water
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Pseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Undecylenate
Emollient
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Salicylate
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Decyl Glucoside, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Glycolic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Pseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides, Citric Acid, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate, Sodium PCA, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Salicylate, Disodium EDTA, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it.
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Caprylate comes from glycerin and caprylic acid. It is an emollient, co-emulsifier, and preservative booster.
Its short C8 fatty acid chain makes it behave differently from its longer-chain emollient cousins like Glyceryl Stearate. It feels more lightweight, fast-absorbing, and silky instead of rich and waxy.
As a co-emulsifier, its "head" and "tail" sit at the oil-water interface. But overall, the short C8 tail and not being water soluble means it doesn't really have the muscle to emulsify a formula on its own. That's why you'll often see it paired with a primary emulsifier like Cetearyl Glucoside.
Interestingly, Glyceryl Caprylate acts as a preservative booster. This is because its fatty-acid backbone disrupts microbial lipid membranes. It shows excellent activity against bacteria and yeast but is weaker against mold.
Typical concentrations range from 0.5-1% and this ingredient is generally non-irritating.
Because this ingredient has a C8 fatty acid chain, it is outside the range that the Malassezia yeast metabolizes (making it fungal acne safe).
Learn more about Glyceryl CaprylateGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateGlycolic 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 “glue” 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 (that’s 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 don’t 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 you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidThis ingredient is the sodium salt of salicylic acid, the famous anti-acne ingredient.
Officially, this ingredient is used as a preservative. However, some studies found Sodium Salicylate to have exfoliating properties. Further studies are needed.
Water. 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
