What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid 14%
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientMethyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmollientBoerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingSalicylic Acid
MaskingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAdenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventXanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningCeteareth-20
CleansingWater, Azelaic Acid 14%, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Salicylic Acid, Allantoin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Adenosine Triphosphate, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Ceteareth-20
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantOlive Oil PEG-7 Esters
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientStearyl Alcohol
EmollientPropylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
MaskingSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
EmollientPEG-40 Stearate
EmulsifyingPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantBeeswax
Emulsion StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTriethanolamine
BufferingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Disodium EDTA
Cyclopentasiloxane
EmollientLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingHydrogenated Polyisobutene, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Isopropyl Myristate, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, PEG-40 Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Beeswax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Cyclopentasiloxane, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 StearateWater. 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