What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%
Water
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-100 Stearate
SurfactantSorbitol
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDisodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate
CleansingTridecyl Stearate
EmollientNeopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientParaffin
PerfumingCetyl Esters
EmollientAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingTridecyl Trimellitate
EmollientTrisodium Sulfosuccinate
BufferingPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningSodium Sulfate
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeImidazolidinyl Urea
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBenzoyl Peroxide 2.5%, Water, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate, Tridecyl Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Paraffin, Cetyl Esters, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Trisodium Sulfosuccinate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
EmollientDisodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Chloride
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientPolypodium Vulgare Rhizome Extract
HumectantDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeCetraria Islandica Thallus Extract
HumectantSphagnum Magellanicum Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Moschata Seed Oil
EmollientCannabis Sativa Seed Oil
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBakuchiol
AntimicrobialGlycerin
HumectantOlive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingCannabidiol - Synthetically Produced
AntioxidantUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnolol
AntioxidantHonokiol
AntioxidantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingWater, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Polypodium Vulgare Rhizome Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Cetraria Islandica Thallus Extract, Sphagnum Magellanicum Extract, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Bakuchiol, Glycerin, Olive Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Citric Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Cannabidiol - Synthetically Produced, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Magnolol, Honokiol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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