What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningPEG-32
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Acetate
AntimicrobialMahonia Aquifolium Root Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentSpiraea Ulmaria Extract
AstringentAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCrithmum Maritimum Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Geranium Maculatum Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Nardus Oil
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Camphor
Masking
10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningSebacic Acid
BufferingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,10-Decanediol
SolventOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, PEG-32, Butylene Glycol, Pvm/Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Zinc Gluconate, Zinc Acetate, Mahonia Aquifolium Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Yeast Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cymbopogon Nardus Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Biotin, Panthenol, Caffeine, Camphor, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Sebacic Acid, Ceramide AP, 1,10-Decanediol, Oleanolic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
