What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Oleth-20
CleansingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Menthyl Lactate
Masking
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil
Emollient
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantBenzoic Acid
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Polysorbate 20, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Oleth-20, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Menthyl Lactate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Linoleic Acid, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Linolenic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Calcium Gluconate, Benzoic Acid, Tocopherol, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningSalvia Officinalis Leaf Water
MaskingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil
Astringent
Citrus Medica Peel Oil
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Viola Odorata Oil
Masking
Citral
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Centaurium Erythraea Extract
Skin ConditioningImpatiens Balsamina Leaf Extract
AstringentYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Tocotrienols
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Citrus Medica Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Viola Odorata Oil, Citral, Linalool, Farnesol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Salicylic Acid, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Centaurium Erythraea Extract, Impatiens Balsamina Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract, Polysorbate 80, Tocotrienols, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidWater. 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
