What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Pumice
Abrasive
Zinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent
Maris Sal
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Silica
Abrasive
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Kaolin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Pumice, Zinc Gluconate, Saccharomyces Ferment, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Maris Sal, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lauroyl Lysine, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene, Linalool, Silica, CI 77891
Salicylic Acid 1.5%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
Masking
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
CI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Formate
Buffering
Lactobacillus Extract Filtrate
HumectantSalicylic Acid 1.5%, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coconut Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Isethionate, Xanthan Gum, Menthoxypropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Mica, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, CI 77510, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Lactobacillus Extract Filtrate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ci 77891 is a white pigment from Titanium dioxide. It is naturally found in minerals such as rutile and ilmenite.
It's main function is to add a white color to cosmetics. It can also be mixed with other colors to create different shades.
Ci 77891 is commonly found in sunscreens due to its ability to block UV rays.
Learn more about CI 77891Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Se is a self-emulsifying (SE) form of glyceryl stearate. Self-emusifying means this ingredient automatically blends with water. It is an emulsifier, emollient, and cleansing agent.
As an emulsifier, Glyceryl Stearate Se prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It is also a surfactant, meaning it helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants help gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants so they may be rinsed away easily.
Emollients help your skin stay smooth and soft. It does so by creating a film on top of the skin that helps trap moisture in.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate SePhenoxyethanol 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 PhenoxyethanolSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
