What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Stearate
CleansingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Sweetalmondamphoacetate
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningElaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Glycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Sweetalmondamphoacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Zea Mays Oil, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Parfum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Tripropylene Glycol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Castanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Picea Abies Leaf Extract
Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Tripropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Adenosine, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Gluconolactone, Glutathione, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Maltodextrin, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Hydrolyzed Acacia Macrostachya Seed Extract, Collagen Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Picea Abies Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract
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 GlycolCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidCastanea Crenata Shell Extract comes from the shell of the chestnut.
Studies show chestnut shells to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Antioxidants protect your skin against damaging molecules. This may help reduce the signs of aging.
Learn more about Castanea Crenata Shell ExtractCitric 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 AcidDextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.
As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.
Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.
Learn more about DextrinEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinWater. 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
