What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Powder
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentDimethicone
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingOleth-10
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Disodium EDTA
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSimethicone
Emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Polyacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Palmitic Acid, Oryza Sativa Powder, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid, Sorbitol, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Oleth-10, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Simethicone, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Titanium Dioxide
Benzoyl Peroxide 10%
Water
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate
CleansingSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoyl Peroxide 10%, Water, Carbomer, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, PEG-40 Stearate, Propanediol, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPalmitic Acid is a fatty acid naturally found in our skin and in many plant and animal sources.
In cosmetics, it is usually derived from palm oil. It serves many purposes in skincare, acting as a cleanser, emollient, and emulsifier.
Interestingly, topically applied Palmitic Acid can be elongated into longer chain fatty acids and ceramides. A 2019 study found low levels of Palmitic Acid lead to slower development of cells, suggesting it plays a role in keeping your skin's renewal process on track.
The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel determined it safe as used in cosmetics at concentrations up to 13%. It is non-irritating and non-sensitizing in clinical studies.
The culprit behind fungal acne, the Malassezia yeast, feeds on fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C11-C24. Palmitic Acid, at C16, falls right into that sweet spot.
In vitro studies have shown that Palmitic Acid is one of the fatty acids that induce rapid Malassezia growth in lab settings.
It's worth noting that what feeds yeast in a lab doesn't necessarily feed it on your face since formulation and your skin's chemistry play a bigger role.
Learn more about Palmitic AcidPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
