What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 0.5%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCucumis Sativus Fruit Water
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingMalpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Niacinamide
SmoothingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSalicylic Acid 0.5%, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethoxydiglycol, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sclerotium Gum, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Niacinamide, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, T-Butyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientLactic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycolic Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningYeast Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialGlucose
HumectantCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingSodium Phytate
Hectorite
AbsorbentSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Lactic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Hydroxide, Gluconolactone, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Maltodextrin, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Yeast Extract, Panthenol, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Ferulic Acid, Glucose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Sodium Phytate, Hectorite, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Water. 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