What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Benzoyl Peroxide 5%
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCocoyl Argininamide
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Malic Acid
Buffering
Safflower Acid
CleansingSyringa Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-13
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Hexapeptide-23
Skin Conditioning
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Benzoyl Peroxide 5%, Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Coco-Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cocoyl Argininamide, Niacinamide, Mandelic Acid, Malic Acid, Safflower Acid, Syringa Vulgaris Extract, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-13, Myristoyl Hexapeptide-23, Lauric Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AllantoinBeta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolWe don't have a description for Cocoyl Argininamide yet.
Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-13 is a peptide.
Panthenol 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 PanthenolWater. 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
