What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlumina
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Phytate
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Grandis Seed Extract
Astringent
Hypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hedera Helix Extract
AntimicrobialYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Sulfate
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Ammonium Chloride
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Formaldehyde
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Alumina, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Lactic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Zea Mays Starch, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Linoleic Acid, Phospholipids, Alcohol, Allantoin, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Phytate, Ascorbic Acid, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Yeast Extract, Ammonium Sulfate, Lauryl Alcohol, Ammonium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Formaldehyde, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lycopene
Antioxidant
Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tourmaline
Glucosamine Hcl
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningSodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingBabassuamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Stearic Acid, Lycopene, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Tourmaline, Glucosamine Hcl, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Salicylic Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Gluconate, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Its main roles are:
Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol.
The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Learn more about Cetyl 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 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 AcidStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic 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
