What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPiper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningForsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCnidium Officinale Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Trehalose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Octyldodeceth-16, Butylene Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract
AstringentSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Water
MaskingSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningWater, Methylpropanediol, Gluconolactone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Water, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Juice
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
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneHouttuynia Cordata Extract is more commonly known as Heart Leaf, Fish Mint, or Chameleon plant.
The components found in Heart Leaf give it antioxidant, hydrating, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Heart Leaf is rich in flavonoids such as quercetin, apigenin, and more. It also contains polysaccharides, the most common type of carbs in food.
Flavonoids have been shown to be effective antioxidants. They help neutralize free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are unstable molecules that may damage our skin cells and DNA. The flavonoids in Heart Leaf also help soothe the skin.
Polysaccharides are naturally found in our skin. They play a role in hydrating and repairing the top layer of skin. The polysaccharides in Heart Leaf help moisturize our skin.
Studies show decanoyl acetaldehyde, a component of Heart Leaf oil, is effective at killing bacteria.
The name 'Fish Mint' comes from the herb's natural fishy smell. Is is native to southeast Asia and used throughout the continent for traditional cooking and medicine.
Learn more about Houttuynia Cordata ExtractWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
