What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Menthol
Masking
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingTorreya Nucifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil
Masking
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Artemisia Vulgaris Oil
Perfuming
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Decyl Glucoside, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Menthol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil, Limonene, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Linalool, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Salicylic Acid, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauramidopropyl Betaine
CleansingSodium Isethionate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Benzoate
Preservative
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coconut Acid, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Isethionate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Salicylic Acid, Sorbitol, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Potassium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Arachidic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Myristic Acid, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Oleic Acid, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Madecassoside
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 StearateMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources. In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidSalicylic 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 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 ChlorideStearic 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
