What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 3%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Petrolatum
Emollient
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Steareth-21
CleansingJojoba Esters
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
7-Dehydrocholesterol
Emulsion StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Ceteareth-25
CleansingZea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Bis-Lauryl Cocaminopropylamine/Hdi/PEG-100 Copolymer
Cholesterol
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
EDTA
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid 3%, Water, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Petrolatum, Aminomethyl Propanol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Gluconolactone, Steareth-21, Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Methyl Gluceth-20, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Bisabolol, Ceteareth-25, Zea Mays Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide EOP, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide Eos, Bis-Lauryl Cocaminopropylamine/Hdi/PEG-100 Copolymer, Cholesterol, Propylene Glycol, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Polysorbate 60, Ceramide Ns, Cetyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Ethylhexylglycerin, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Ceramide AP, EDTA, Behenic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Methylparaben, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialUrea
Buffering
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingRetinal
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Tromethamine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Urea, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Salicylic Acid, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Bakuchiol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Laureth-7, Retinal, Beta-Glucan, 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.
Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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 StearateSalicylic 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 AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
