What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate
CleansingMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Sulfur
Antiseborrhoeic
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroamphoacetate
CleansingAzelaic Acid
Buffering
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water
MaskingOsmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract
MaskingQuartz
Abrasive
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantSaccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
Emollient
Guaiazulene
Antimicrobial
Magnolol
Antioxidant
Honokiol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLauric Acid
Cleansing
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingCapric Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPropanediol
Solvent
Cocamide Mipa
Emulsifying
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Octenidine Hcl
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Isethionate
CleansingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sulfur, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Azelaic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water, Osmanthus Fragrans Flower Extract, Quartz, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polyglycerin-6, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Guaiazulene, Magnolol, Honokiol, Hydrolyzed Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Lauric Acid, Coconut Acid, Myristic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Capric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, Cocamide Mipa, Hydroxyacetophenone, Octenidine Hcl, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Isethionate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Cetyl Phosphate, Potassium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Surfactant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate
Surfactant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Polyquaternium-10
Sodium Chloride
MaskingPolyquaternium-7
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Domestica Fruit Extract
MoisturisingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Dipeptide-15
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Niacinamide, Palmitic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate, Salicylic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Azelaic Acid, Dipeptide-15, Glutathione, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sucrose Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Azelaic acid is a multitasker ingredient that helps treat acne, pigmentation, and irritation. It is a great option for sensitive skin.
What makes it special?
OTC Azelaic acid is usually available in concentrations from 10-15% and anything over requires a prescription.
Here's what each tier does best:
Unlike other acids, azelaic acid will not make your skin more photosensitive/sun sensitive.
Though this ingredient is naturally occurring in grains like wheat, rye, and barley, it is usually synthetically created for cosmetics to ensure stability and effectiveness.
Learn more about Azelaic AcidCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is derived from an herb native to Southeast Asia. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Centella is rich in antioxidants and amino acids, such as Madecassic Acid and Asiaticoside.
Studies show the compounds in centella help with:
The combination of all these properties makes centella effective at soothing, hydrating, and protecting the skin.
Other great components of centella include Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and Asiatic Acid.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidMyristic Acid, aka tetradecanoic acid, is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in coconut oil and palm oil.
In skincare, it is an:
Research indicates that this ingredient posts a low risk of irritation and sensitization.
Since myristic acid is a C14 fatty acid, it falls within the range that Malassezia can metabolize, and therefore not fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPotassium 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 Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideWater. 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
