What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Surfactant
Glycerin
Humectant
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Houttuynia Cordata Powder
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Dextrin
AbsorbentHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Benzoate
Preservative
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Potassium Cocoate, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Powder, Madecassoside, Ceramide NP, Panthenol, Gluconolactone, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Dextrin, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Benzoate, Hydroxyacetophenone
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Alaninate
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Centella Asiatica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactobionic Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Potassium Cocoate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Lactobionic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tromethamine, Sodium Chloride, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Levulinate, Levulinic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied.
It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin.
A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record.
Learn more about Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate is a surfactant and helps cleanse skin. It is created from the fatty acids of coconut oil.
Surfactants help rinse oil, dirt, and other pollutants easily from skin. It has a faint fruit-like scent.
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 antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneMadecassoside is one of four active compounds found in Centella asiatica and is one of the main reasons Centella is so effective at calming irritated skin and supporting the moisture barrier.
There's a solid body of peer-reviewed research backing Madecassoside for several skin benefits. Studies have found:
Madecassoside pairs well with other hydrating or antioxidant ingredients like Ascorbic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid.
Learn more about MadecassosideThis ingredient is the potassium salt of coconut acid. Coconut acid is created by mixing fatty acids from coconut oil.
It is an emulsifier, surfactant, and cleanser. According to a manufacturer, it contains glycerin.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideThis ingredient is a surfactant and foam producer.
Water. 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
