What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Benzoyl Peroxide
Glycolic Acid
BufferingCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPropanediol
SolventAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoyl Peroxide, Glycolic Acid, Ceramide AP, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Decyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantAzelaic Acid
BufferingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant4-Butylresorcinol
AntioxidantHydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
AntioxidantCalendula Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Poloxamer 407
EmulsifyingParfum
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hyaluronate, 4-Butylresorcinol, Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Ferulic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Disodium EDTA, Poloxamer 407, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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.
Sodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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