What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMenthol
MaskingMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingSodium PCA
HumectantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingAcrylates Crosspolymer-4
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Distearate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingLinoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Laureth-4
EmulsifyingCarbon
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Kaolin
AbrasiveGlycolic Acid
BufferingPseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract
HumectantOenothera Biennis Oil
EmollientRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Salicylate
PreservativeGlycerin
HumectantMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Panthenol, Menthol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Sodium PCA, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates Crosspolymer-4, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Benzoate, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Laureth-4, Carbon, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Kaolin, Glycolic Acid, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Salicylate, Glycerin, Mentha Viridis Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide
Salicylic Acid 3%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingGlycol Distearate
EmollientMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantSodium PCA
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Oil
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantCharcoal Powder
AbrasiveCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSalicylic Acid 3%, Water, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Glycol Distearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Sodium PCA, Lactic Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Panthenol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Caramel, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Charcoal Powder, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Biotin, Hyaluronic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.
This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.
Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.
While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.
Learn more about Cocamidopropyl BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycol 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 DistearateThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilThis essential oil is steam-distilled from peppermint leaves, also known as peppermint oil. It's mainly used for scent in skincare but also provides that signature "cooling" sensation.
Peppermint oil is a "feels amazing" ingredient until it doesn't.
At higher doses or for those with sensitive skin, methol-type cooling can quickly turn into burning/irritation. It can also trigger irritant dermatitis or even allergic contact dermatitis. In a large patch-test dataset, peppermint oil had a low but positive rate for this.
In cosmetics, Cosmetic Safety Reviews (CIR) concludes that peppermint oil is safe to use when formulated to be non-sensitizing with some restrictions; for instance, pulegone, a naturally occurring component of peppermint oil, should not exceed 1%.
Since peppermint oil contains fragrance allergens such as limonene, linalool, and menthol, it can be sensitizing for those with rosacea, eczema, a broken skin barrier, or just sensitive skin in general.
In Japan, this ingredient is known as Hakka Yu.
Learn more about Mentha Piperita OilPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolThis gentle cleansing and foaming ingredient is known for leaving a smooth feeling in skin and hair. It is made using coconut oil.
According to the manufacturer, it is soluble in water and has resistance to hard water, acid, and alkali.
Due to its coconut base, it may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Sodium Methyl Cocoyl TaurateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCAWater. 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