What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Taurine Laurate
CleansingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Acrylates Copolymer
Volcanic Soil
Skin Conditioning
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Corn Starch Modified
AbsorbentZinc PCA
Humectant
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Propylparaben
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMenthol
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Aroma
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate, Lauric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Stearic Acid, Sodium Taurine Laurate, Palmitic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Volcanic Soil, Charcoal Powder, Corn Starch Modified, Zinc PCA, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Menthol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Fomes Officinalis Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Aroma, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77499
Water
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAcrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingLauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingErythritol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingAroma
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Potassium Cocoate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Erythritol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Aroma, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aroma refers to an ingredient, or mixture of ingredients, that impart or mask a flavor.
The name is slightly confusing. This is because INCI associates aroma with flavor instead of smell.
Here is the official definition from the The International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook:
“Aroma is a term for ingredient labeling used to identify that a product contains a material or combination of materials normally added to a cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular flavor.”
INCI shows the only purpose of aroma to be "flavouring".
However, due to regulation differences, some companies may use aroma in place of parfum.
In Canada, this ingredient only has to be listed in concentrations above 1%.
Learn more about AromaDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAPhenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSalicylic 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, it’s 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 AcidChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
