What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 0.5%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Succinic Acid
BufferingSucrose
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Polyacrylate-13
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCetearyl Olivate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyisobutene
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid 0.5%, Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Acetyl Glucosamine, Succinic Acid, Sucrose, Trehalose, Polyacrylate-13, Panthenol, Zea Mays Starch, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Cetearyl Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyisobutene, Carbomer, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Zinc Oxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water
Skin ConditioningIsohexadecane
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialSodium Chloride
MaskingPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDimethiconol
Emollient
Aluminum Hydroxide
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingIron Oxides
Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Water, Isohexadecane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethiconol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Iron Oxides
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDimethicone Crosspolymer is a silicone created by modifying dimethicone with hydrocarbon side chains. Due to its large size, it does not penetrate skin. It is considered non-occlusive.
Dimethicone Crosspolymer is used to stabilize and thicken products. It also helps give products a silky feel.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
