What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides
Emollient
Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientRicinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Limonene
Perfuming
Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil
Masking
Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil
Masking
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Linalool
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Artemisia Vulgaris Oil
Perfuming
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Trimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Silica, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Limonene, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Salicylic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Linalool, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
BHT
Antioxidant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingAcetic Acid
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Alcohol, Hexylene Glycol, Betaine, Urea, Glycereth-26, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Octyldodeceth-16, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Torreya Nucifera Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, BHT, Potassium Hydroxide, Acetic Acid, 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.
Disodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinThis ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.
The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.
In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:
Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.
Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.
Learn more about Ricinus Communis Seed OilSalix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark ExtractTocopherol 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 TocopherolTorreya Nucifera Seed Oil is an oil and isn't fungal acne safe.
Water. 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
