What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Menthol
Masking
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningIsoceteth-20
EmulsifyingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Mentha Piperita Oil
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialUrtica Dioica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer
Styrene/Vp Copolymer
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Disodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Isoceteth-20, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Menthol, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Urtica Dioica Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilMenthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.
Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about MentholWater. 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
