What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 1.5%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Coco-Betaine
Cleansing
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Cymbopogon Citratus Extract
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid 1.5%, Water, Coco-Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Coconut Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Cymbopogon Citratus Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer
CleansingDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Maltooligosyl Glucoside
Skin ConditioningPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Malus Domestica Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower Water
Skin Conditioning
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Chloride
MaskingXylitylglucoside
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Sodium Sulfate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Capryloyl Glycine, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Coco-Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sodium Chloride, Xylitylglucoside, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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 AcidCoco-Glucoside is a surfactant, or a cleansing ingredient. It is made from glucose and coconut oil.
Surfactants help gather dirt, oil, and other pollutants from your skin to be rinsed away.
This ingredient is considered gentle and non-comedogenic. However, it may still be irritating for some.
Learn more about Coco-GlucosideGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.
Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
Water. 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
