What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Oenanthe Javanica Extract 15%
AntimicrobialWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearates
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
Masking
Juniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Artemisia Vulgaris Oil
Perfuming
Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Betaine
Humectant
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Polyquaternium-22
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Phytate
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pantothenic Acid
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Oenanthe Javanica Extract 15%, Water, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Salicylic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearates, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Betaine, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyquaternium-22, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Phytate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Niacinamide, Linolenic Acid, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantothenic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingOryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Betaine
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-7
Sodium Chloride
MaskingCetearyl Olivate
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Aspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Lauric Acid, Lauryl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Chloride, Cetearyl Olivate, Panthenol, Sorbitan Olivate, Hexylene Glycol, Allantoin, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Oryza Sativa Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, Aspergillus Ferment, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLauric Acid is a saturated fatty acid naturally found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and even breast milk.
In cosmetics, it is an:
Lab studies have found that lauric acid is surprisingly good at killing acne-causing bacteria. However, these tests were done on bacteria in a petri dish and not on real skin, so we can't say for certain it works the same in a formulation on a real face.
The comedogenic rating of 4 comes from the 1972 rabbit ear model using undiluted ingredients. Comedogenicity is highly individual and one comedogenic ingredient cannot predict how a formula will behave on skin.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe and research has confirmed Malassezia can use it as a food source.
Learn more about Lauric AcidMyristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid. It is naturally found in milk fat. Other sources include palm oil, coconut oil, and butter fat.
Myristic Acid is an emulsifer and cleanser. As an emulsifer, it stabilizes a product by preventing ingredients from separating. Myristic Acid helps clean your skin by acting as a surfactant. It tends to gather oil and dirt on your skin to be easily rinsed away.
One study from 2021 found Myristic Acid to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Learn more about Myristic AcidPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPotassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSorbitan Olivate is created from the fatty acids in olive oil and sorbitol.
This ingredient is an oil in water emulsifier. It helps stabilize a product by preventing oils and waters from separating. Sorbitan Olivate also helps hydrate the skin.
This ingredient is also known as part of Olivem 1000, with Cetearyl Olivate being the other part.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient helps preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria.
Please note, having a healthy microbiome is different from fungal acne; a healthy microbiome includes small amounts of yeast that normally live on your skin without causing problems.
Fungal acne happens when one type of yeast (Malassezia) grows out of control. This is usually because it's feeding on certain oils or fatty acids. Due to the olive oil base, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan OlivateStearic 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 Water
