Pond's Bright Miracle Ultimate Clarity Niasorcinol Facial Foam Versus Happy Skin Cosmetics Hyaluronic Soothing Cleansing Gel
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCaprylyl Methicone
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientPotassium Chloride
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSucrose Distearate
EmollientTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantAcrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentStearyl Dimethicone
EmollientParfum
MaskingStearic Acid
CleansingMagnesium Sulfate
Cholesterol
EmollientDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeOctadecane
EmollientIsomerized Linoleic Acid
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Lactate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Acetamide Mea
HumectantRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantCI 17200
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Caprylyl Methicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Potassium Chloride, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sucrose Distearate, Titanium Dioxide, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Stearyl Dimethicone, Parfum, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Cholesterol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, DMDM Hydantoin, Octadecane, Isomerized Linoleic Acid, Ammonium Lactate, Disodium EDTA, Acetamide Mea, Retinyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, BHT, CI 17200
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingLauryl Betaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCoconut Acid
CleansingSodium Chloride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingSodium Isethionate
CleansingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientParfum
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauryl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coconut Acid, Sodium Chloride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Isethionate, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumWater. 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