What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Madecassoside
AntioxidantO-Cymen-5-Ol
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-10
CleansingAsiaticoside
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingPanax Notoginseng Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicTaraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid 2%, Water, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Ethoxydiglycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Trideceth-10, Asiaticoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panax Notoginseng Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Leaf Extract
Avena Sativa Seed Water 77%
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Squalane
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Surfactin
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Seed Water 77%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Squalane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sodium Surfactin, Beta-Glucan
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 GlycolHydroxyacetophenone 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 HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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