What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Nitrate
SoothingGlyoxal
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Water, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Glycolic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Niacinamide, Zinc PCA, Allantoin, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Nitrate, Glyoxal, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Butylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isododecane
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyacrylamide
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLaureth-7
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Carbonate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Polysilicone-11, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Polyacrylamide, Butylene Glycol, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Glycerin, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Isopropyl Myristate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolGlycerin (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.
Salix Alba Bark Extract comes from the bark of the white willow tree. The official CosIng listing states this ingredient to have astringent, skin conditioning, soothing, and tonic properties.
Its star compound is salicin, a natural glucoside that is chemically related to salicylic acid. That's why you'll often see it marketed as a "natural BHA alternative" but that's a bit of a stretch.
Your skin can't convert salicin to salicylic acid because it needs specific enzymes that aren't present on the skin's surface. It won't behave like true salicylic acid, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetics.
However, this ingredient has its own perks. It contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins that give it proven antioxidant and soothing properties.
An 8-week clinical study found a cream with 2% of this extract improved skin microcirculation, elasticity, and dark circles. This is most likely due to its role in increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts and improved vascular integrity.
Another study found a topical serum with 0.5% salicin showed improvements in visible signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, and texture.
Just be careful if you have a known aspirin/salicylate allergy and be sure to consult with a medical professional about using this ingredient if you do.
Fun fact: Willow Bark extract has been used for thousands of years and ancient civilizations used white willow to help treat pain and fevers.
Learn more about Salix Alba Bark 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
