What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceryl Esters
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Soybean Oil
Emollient
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bentonite
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceryl Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Tocopherol, Bentonite, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum, Citral
Salicylic Acid 1.5%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Citric Acid
Buffering
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Menthol
Masking
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentGlycerin
Humectant
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Acrylates Copolymer
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Salicylic Acid 1.5%, Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Menthol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycerin, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-150 Distearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glyceryl Stearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itās known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCitric 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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of āFRAGRANCEā or āPARFUMā according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSalicylic 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, itās 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 AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
