What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 0.5%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingHydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride
HumectantPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantPhytic Acid
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
EmollientCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientAllium Sativum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin ConditioningPassiflora Incarnata Extract
AstringentSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingCamphor
MaskingMenthol
MaskingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingSodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
SoothingCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Archangelica Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingEchinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract
MoisturisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialMaltodextrin
AbsorbentSilica
AbrasivePalmitic Acid
EmollientZinc PCA
HumectantKaolin
AbrasivePalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningAminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl PCA
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSalicylic Acid 0.5%, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Bis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Phytic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Camphor, Menthol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polysorbate 80, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Angelica Archangelica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Maltodextrin, Silica, Palmitic Acid, Zinc PCA, Kaolin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl PCA, Phenoxyethanol
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 GlycerinSalicylic 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, itβs 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 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 WaterZinc PCA (or "zinc salt") differs slightly from zinc itself. PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. However, Zinc PCA comes from zinc.
It can help reduce redness, regulate sebum, and promote the general healing process of the skin.
Zinc PCA tends to be especially useful for those with oily, acne-prone skin. It's certainly an ingredient worth trying out!
Learn more about Zinc PCA