What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Rheum Palmatum Root Extract
Astringent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Honey
Humectant
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propanediol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Alcohol, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Chlorphenesin, Salicylic Acid, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Allantoin, Honey, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Parfum, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isododecane
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Amylopectin
Dextrin
AbsorbentPolyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tromethamine
BufferingPolylysine
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isododecane, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Salicylic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Zinc PCA, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Allantoin, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Polylysine, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, itβs still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
