What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Benzoyl Peroxide 10%
Water
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoyl Peroxide 10%, Water, Carbomer, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, PEG-40 Stearate, Propanediol, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Acrylates Copolymer
Agar
MaskingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
EmollientCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentCarrageenan
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
Disodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Iron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Polyquaternium-7
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 73360
Cosmetic ColorantCI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
UV AbsorberSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 60725
Cosmetic ColorantWater
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid 2%, Acrylates Copolymer, Agar, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Benzalkonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Carrageenan, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Iron Oxides, Mica, Parfum, Polyquaternium-7, Polysorbate 20, Propylene Glycol, CI 73360, CI 16035, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, CI 60725, Water
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 GlycerinSodium 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
