What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventLactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingNiacinamide
Smoothing
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOzonized Oryza Sativa Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid 2%, Water, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Niacinamide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Azelaic Acid, Bisabolol, Cetearyl Olivate, Citrullus Lanatus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Lactic Acid, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ozonized Oryza Sativa Callus Culture Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Ursolic Acid
MaskingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Lactic Acid, Zinc PCA, Acetyl Glucosamine, Trehalose, Hydroxyacetophenone, Salicylic Acid, Ursolic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Polysorbate 80, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, CI 42090
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycerinLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolPyrus Malus Fruit Extract is extract from Apples. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, sugars, and antioxidants.
The sugar in Apples are humectants and help hydrate the skin. On top of that, apples also contain some acids, such as malic acid. These acids may have a mild exfoliating effect.
Last, the phytochemicals found in apples are strong antioxidants. These antioxidants help with anti-aging as they protect your skin cells against oxidative damage.
Learn more about Pyrus Malus Fruit ExtractSalicylic 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
