Pond's Bright Miracle Ultimate Clarity Niasorcinol Facial Foam Versus Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Soothing 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 ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningBetula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningViola Mandshurica Flower Extract
AntioxidantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin ProtectingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingEthylhexyl Palmitate
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Glyceryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ascorbic Acid, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA
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 GlycolThis ingredient is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. It is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid. In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Be sure to patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDisodium 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 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