What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dimethyl Sulfone
SolventMontmorillonite
AbsorbentIllite
Abrasive
Dextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
Buffering
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Dimethyl Sulfone, Montmorillonite, Illite, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Malic Acid, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingGaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Butyl Avocadate
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus
Skin ConditioningLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Oxygen
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Glucoside, Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Butyl Avocadate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propyl Gallate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Oxygen, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 StearateSalicylic 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, it’s 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 AcidThis 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 TaurateWater. 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
