This acne treatment is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil to clear breakouts and refine the look of pores.
This smoothing serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate to refine skin texture and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Methylparaben
Preservative
Trideceth-10
CleansingDisodium EDTA
ChelatingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Quaternium-73
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientGlycogen
HumectantWater, Octyldodecanol, Butylene Glycol, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Methylparaben, Trideceth-10, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Quaternium-73, Glycosaminoglycans, Glycogen
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolyacrylamide
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Steareth-2
EmulsifyingSteareth-21
CleansingC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberDisodium EDTA
ChelatingBHT
Antioxidant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPotassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Sulfated Hyaluronate
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Calcium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Oleoyl Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polyacrylamide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-2, Steareth-21, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Laureth-7, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Alcohol, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Sulfated Hyaluronate, Ceramide NP, Potassium Sorbate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Calcium Hyaluronate, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Sodium Stearoyl Hyaluronate, Sodium Oleoyl Hyaluronate, Ceramide EOP
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
