What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Benzoyl Peroxide 4%
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoyl Peroxide 4%, Carbomer, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Palmitic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, PEG-40 Stearate, Propanediol, Water, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Sorbitan Stearate, Sorbitol, Stearic Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingDi-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-150 Distearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAchillea Millefolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMelissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrimula Veris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentVeronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentBHA
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Gluconolactone, Niacinamide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Trioleate, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Chloride, Di-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Propanediol, Coconut Acid, Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Achillea Millefolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Flower Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Veronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, BHA
Reviews
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 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 PropanediolChances 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 ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
