What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBetaine
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating4-Terpineol
MaskingPinus Pinaster Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantBrassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract
AstringentPrunus Domestica Fruit Extract
MoisturisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSalix Alba Bark Extract
AstringentSalicylic Acid
MaskingGardenia Florida Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentDextrin
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Gluconolactone, Glycolic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, 4-Terpineol, Pinus Pinaster Leaf Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera Extract, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Gardenia Florida Flower Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Dextrin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventPropanediol
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
PerfumingButylene Glycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
AntimicrobialLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlycine
BufferingGlutamic Acid
HumectantAspartic Acid
Masking4-Terpineol
MaskingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Chloride
MaskingSerine
MaskingHistidine
HumectantAlanine
MaskingThreonine
Proline
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMagnesium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
AstringentWater, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Allantoin, Betaine, Trehalose, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Arginine, Octyldodeceth-16, Xanthan Gum, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, 4-Terpineol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Chloride, Serine, Histidine, Alanine, Threonine, Proline, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride
Reviews
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.Ā
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 preservativesĀ
4-Terpineol is the main component of tea tree oil.
This ingredient is the reason tea tree oil has most of its reputation. Research points to a broad range of biological activity including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Studies show it can significantly block the pathway involved in skin inflammation. It has also been shown to work against acne-causing bacteria, fungi, and even some viruses (and seems to be more effective on its own rather than part of tea tree oil).
Overall, this botanical extract is well-researched and skin-friendly.
Learn more about 4-TerpineolBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itās known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene 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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinHydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant with skin conditioning and soothing properties. It also boosts the efficiency of preservatives.
Though naturally occuring in Norwegian spruce needles, this ingredient is usually synthetically created.
This ingredient is not irritating or sensitizing. Recent research also suggests it may have skin-brightening effects through tyrosinase inhibition.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneThis ingredient is also known as tea tree oil. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Tea tree oil is a complex lipophilic (fat-loving) oil that contains around 100 compounds with terpinen-4-ol being the most abundant (~40%).
Terpinen-4-ol is responsible for tea tree oil's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and makes it a well-researched option for acne.
Clinical studies support 5% tea tree oil as an effective topical treatment for mild to moderate acne. A study with 124 patients compared 5% tea tree oil gel to 5% benzoyl peroxide and both reduced acne (though tea tree oil worked more slowly).
Besides acne, it is also seen in anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments for it's antimicrobial and anti-seborrheic properties.
Safety-wise, the allergic potential of low concentrations on healthy skin is considered low. However, oxidized (old or improperly stored) tea tree oil is a stronger sensitizer.
Irritation can also occur if using the undiluted oil on skin; it's best to use this ingredient as part of a carefully crafted cosmetic formula. This is because regulations require tea tree oil in cosmetics to be stabilized to prevent degradation.
This ingredient has been deemed safe up to 2% in shampoo, 1% in cleansers, and 0.1% in face cream by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
There is some lab evidence that tea tree oil is antifungal against Malassezia, but it is a supportive option at best and not a replacement for proven antifungal treatments.
Learn more about Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf OilMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolWater. 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