What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentAzelaic Acid
BufferingGlycolic Acid
BufferingPolylysine
Urea
BufferingYeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzoic Acid
MaskingSalicylic Acid 2%, Water, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Azelaic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Polylysine, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Allantoin, Glycerin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPantolactone
HumectantTocopherol
AntioxidantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingTranexamic Acid
AstringentTremella Fuciformis Extract
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingMagnesium Chloride
Alcohol
AntimicrobialGlutathione
Polysorbate 80
EmulsifyingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBHT
AntioxidantYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Betaine, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid, Pantolactone, Tocopherol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ubiquinone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Magnesium Chloride, Alcohol, Glutathione, Polysorbate 80, Calcium Gluconate, Pyridoxine Hcl, BHT, Yeast Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
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 PropanediolWater. 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