What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Betaine
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Salicylic Acid 2%, Water, Glycerin, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Oleate
Emollient
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoamphoacetate
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate
CleansingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Glyceryl Oleate, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Anisate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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
