What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningColloidal Sulfur
AntimicrobialAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Succinic Acid
BufferingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Colloidal Sulfur
AntimicrobialSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Kaolin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Succinic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Propanediol, Colloidal Sulfur, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Citrate, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
We don't have a description for Colloidal Sulfur yet.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSalicylic 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 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
