This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Lactic Acid and Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and clear breakouts.
This acne serum is formulated around Azelaic Acid and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water to clear breakouts and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycereth-26
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventSorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Succinic Acid
BufferingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCoptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningO-Cymen-5-Ol
Antimicrobial
Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Astringent
Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Indigofera Tinctoria Extract
MaskingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hemerocallis Fulva Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMyosotis Sylvatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingWater, Lactic Acid, Alcohol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Methylpropanediol, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Tromethamine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum, Succinic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Coptis Japonica Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Indigofera Tinctoria Extract, Glycolic Acid, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hemerocallis Fulva Flower Extract, Myosotis Sylvatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, C12-14 Pareth-12
Water
Skin ConditioningAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingDisodium Phosphate
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAgar
MaskingGellan Gum
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxydecyl Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Arginine
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningWater, Azelaic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Disodium Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Agar, Gellan Gum, Kojic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone, Adenosine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Malachite Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Bisabolol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Xanthophylls
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.
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 preservatives
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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
