What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water
MaskingCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFructan
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Betaine
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Extract, Fructan, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Zinc PCA, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Betaine, Beta-Glucan, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Potassium Hydroxide, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Microcrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Ozokerite
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Oil
Emollient
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hexylene Glycol
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Beeswax, Glycolic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Wax, Propanediol, Ozokerite, Sodium Hydroxide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil, Maris Sal, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Hexylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol
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
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural “glue” that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (that’s where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But don’t skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless you’re highly sensitive, it’s well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract comes from the Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap plant. This plant is native to Northeast Asia and can be found in China, Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia.
In cosmetics, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is due to the flavonoid composition of Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract.
In Chinese traditional folk medicine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract is used to help treat lung issues and hypertension.
Learn more about Scutellaria Baicalensis Root ExtractWater. 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
