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
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingPolyquaternium-22
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Parfum
Masking
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Polyquaternium-22, Lauryl Glucoside, Propanediol, Parfum, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide NP, Acorus Calamus Root Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Solum Diatomeae
Abrasive
Kaolin
Abrasive
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingChlorella Vulgaris Powder
Skin ConditioningCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Powder
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Powder
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Glycol Distearate, Solum Diatomeae, Kaolin, Zea Mays Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Beeswax, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Morus Alba Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Powder, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Powder, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Powder, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactuca Scariola Sativa Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Water, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractEthylhexylglycerin 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 StearateGlycol Distearate serves as a pearlizing or opacifying agent in cosmetic products.
It's often included in cleansers and haircare products to give them a lustrous or shimmering appearance.
It is derived from stearic acid, a natural fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils and animal fats.
Glycol Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycol DistearateLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidMyristic 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 AcidPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideStearic 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
