What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientSodium Chloride
MaskingTriethylhexanoin
MaskingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Propylene Carbonate
SolventIsostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dodecene
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Sodium Chloride, Triethylhexanoin, Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Dodecene, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
C10-18 Triglycerides
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentZinc PCA
Humectant
Octadecenedioic Acid
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingZinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Polysilicone-11
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polylysine
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Distarch Phosphate, Zinc PCA, Octadecenedioic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Olivate, Squalane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Lactic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hydroxide, Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol, Polylysine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenonePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSalicylic 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 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 is a clever two-in-one molecule: the zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA).
Think of it as two useful things bonded together; the PCA half is one of your skin's own natural moisturizing factors (NMF) so it helps hold water in the upper layers. On the other hand, the zinc half does the heavy lifting on oil and bacteria.
The zinc part slows down an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that tells your oil glands to pump out more sebum. Less of that signal means less oil. It also gently fights acne-causing bacteria and soothes redness/irritation.
This is why Zinc PCA often shows up in products for oily, breakout-prone skin and greasy scalps.
One lab study also hinted it might have a small anti-aging perk because it seemed to protect collagen from UVA damage and even helped the skin make a bit more of it. That last bit is still early research done in a dish and not real skin, so take it as a nice bonus rather than a promise for now.
As for scar healing, the picture is more "maybe" than a firm yes. Zinc itself plays a real role in wound repair because it is a cofactor for the enzymes involved in collagen building, calming inflammation, and helping new skin cells cover a wound. Lower zinc levels are also linked to slower healing.
Most of the scar healing research is on zinc oxide or oral zinc rather than zinc PCA specifically, with a focus on healing fresh wounds instead of scars that are already there.
Direct evidence that zinc PCA improves the look of established scars is still limited at this time. Though it would be fair to say zinc PCA supports the general skin-repair environment thanks to its zinc content .
This ingredient is water-soluble and plays nicely with other actives like niacinamide and salicylic acid. It works best at mildly acidic formulas (~4-6 pH) and is effective at low levels. Around 0.1% is enough to be active and finished products commonly use it anywhere up to 4%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-drama multitasker that suits oily and acne-prone skin.
Learn more about Zinc PCA
