What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Silica
Abrasive
Kojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningSalix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcetum
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingParfum
Masking
Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Silica, Kojic Dipalmitate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Water, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Mandelic Acid, Glycerin, Cystoseira Tamariscifolia Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acetum, Capryloyl Glycine, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Water, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Isopropyl Myristate, Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopheryl 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
