What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Potassium Laurate
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Charcoal Powder
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Oryza Sativa Powder
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Charcoal Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Aspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentPinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Laurate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Charcoal Powder, Citric Acid, Oryza Sativa Powder, Maltodextrin, Papain, Water, Butylene Glycol, Charcoal Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Aspergillus Ferment, Saccharomyces Ferment, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingBetaine
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Parfum
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Coconut Acid, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Isethionate, Betaine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Parfum, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Butylene 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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidThis ingredient is made when the Lactobacillus bacteria (the same kind that makes yogurt and kimchi) are allowed to ferment a nutrient medium.
As it ferments, it collects lactic acid, peptides, enzymes, and other bioactive metabolites to provide:
A 2023 review noted that probiotic fermentation ingredients like this one can enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce UV-induced oxidative damage, and support barrier function.
One clinical study from the same year showed a Lactobacillus ferment lysate significantly reduced transepidermal water loss and improved skin hydration.
Another review highlighted that topical Lactobacillus-based preparations can improve ceramide levels in the stratum corneum, support barrier integrity, and even help reduce S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis.
Why is this so cool?
Basically, your skin's outer layer works as a brick wall; skin cells are bricks and ceramides are the mortar holding it together. Moisture escapes, irritants get in, and your skin gets dry and reactive when ceramide levels drop. On top of that, "bad" skin bacteria S. aureus loves to move in when your barrier is weak to make inflammation and irritation worse.
So Lactobacillus ferment is basically patching the wall and evicting the troublemaker when it boosts ceramide production and help keep S. aureus in check.
On top of all this, it also acts as a mild antimicrobial preservative booster.
Just so you know, most studies focus on specific strains or the lysate form rather than this generic "Lactobacillus Ferment", so results can vary.
Though it's a promising ingredient, it doesn't have decades of robust clinical data behind it just yet.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus FermentSodium 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 IsethionateWater. 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
