What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 1%
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientPPG-14 Butyl Ether
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
AstringentDimethicone
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveSteareth-21
CleansingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentGaultheria Procumbens Leaf Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingEugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
MaskingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingCitral
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentCharcoal Powder
AbrasivePorphyra Yezoensis Extract
Skin ConditioningSucrose
HumectantGlycine
BufferingAlgae Extract
EmollientAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveCaffeine
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycine Soja Seed
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantSteareth-2
EmulsifyingZinc PCA
HumectantQuaternium-22
Menthol
MaskingAlcohol
AntimicrobialDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSalicylic Acid 1%, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Silica, Steareth-21, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Citral, Geraniol, Eugenol, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Charcoal Powder, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract, Sucrose, Glycine, Algae Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Caffeine, Glucosamine Hcl, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Glycine Soja Seed, Butylene Glycol, Steareth-2, Zinc PCA, Quaternium-22, Menthol, Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDicaprylyl Carbonate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningVinyldimethicone
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract
AstringentPinus Densiflora Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientSesamum Indicum Seed Oil
EmollientSerenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningErythritol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethiconol
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlucose
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingSilica
AbrasiveFructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingZinc PCA
HumectantMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Vinyldimethicone, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Leaf Extract, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Caprylyl Methicone, Erythritol, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethiconol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glucose, Tromethamine, Silica, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Decyl Glucoside, Pantothenic Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Zinc PCA, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Beta-Sitosterol, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaZinc PCA is a clever two-in-one molecule: the zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA).
Think of it as two useful things bonded together; the PCA half is one of your skin's own natural moisturizing factors (NMF) so it helps hold water in the upper layers. On the other hand, the zinc half does the heavy lifting on oil and bacteria.
The zinc part slows down an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that tells your oil glands to pump out more sebum. Less of that signal means less oil. It also gently fights acne-causing bacteria and soothes redness/irritation.
This is why Zinc PCA often shows up in products for oily, breakout-prone skin and greasy scalps.
One lab study also hinted it might have a small anti-aging perk because it seemed to protect collagen from UVA damage and even helped the skin make a bit more of it. That last bit is still early research done in a dish and not real skin, so take it as a nice bonus rather than a promise for now.
As for scar healing, the picture is more "maybe" than a firm yes. Zinc itself plays a real role in wound repair because it is a cofactor for the enzymes involved in collagen building, calming inflammation, and helping new skin cells cover a wound. Lower zinc levels are also linked to slower healing.
Most of the scar healing research is on zinc oxide or oral zinc rather than zinc PCA specifically, with a focus on healing fresh wounds instead of scars that are already there.
Direct evidence that zinc PCA improves the look of established scars is still limited at this time. Though it would be fair to say zinc PCA supports the general skin-repair environment thanks to its zinc content .
This ingredient is water-soluble and plays nicely with other actives like niacinamide and salicylic acid. It works best at mildly acidic formulas (~4-6 pH) and is effective at low levels. Around 0.1% is enough to be active and finished products commonly use it anywhere up to 4%.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-drama multitasker that suits oily and acne-prone skin.
Learn more about Zinc PCA