What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Surfactant
Behentrimonium Chloride
Preservative
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAvena Sativa Kernel Flour
Abrasive
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-7
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Avena Sativa Bran Extract
Abrasive
Sodium Palm Kernelate
CleansingSodium Shea Butterate
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoate
Cleansing
Theobroma Cacao Husk
Abrasive
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingTriethyl Citrate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Charcoal Powder, Salicylic Acid, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Polyquaternium-7, Beta-Glucan, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Isopropyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Shea Butterate, Sodium Cocoate, Theobroma Cacao Husk, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Cocamide Mea
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingParfum
Masking
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate
Surfactant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Polyquaternium-7
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCitronellol
Perfuming
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamide Mea, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Parfum, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Carbomer, Salicylic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Mica, Glycolic Acid, Limonene, CI 77891, Citronellol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.
The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.
In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.
The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.
Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.
Learn more about Benzoic AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPolyquaternium-7 is a light to clear colored liquid. It is commonly found in haircare products for its film-forming and anti-static properties.
According to a manufacturer, it is a non-paraben and specially developed for negatively charged surfactant systems. This makes it a great hairstyle holder and helps to improve wet hair detangling without adding buildup.
Salicylic 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 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 Water
