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 ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Triolein
Skin Conditioning
Ethyl Olivate
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Emollient
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Triolein, Ethyl Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Gluconate, Madecassoside, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Tocopherol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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.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 PropanediolSorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, it keeps the water and oil ingredients from separating. This keeps formulas stable and smooth.
In a 24 hour occlusive patch test on 56 subjects, 10% sorbitan isostearate was completely non-irritating. Most formulas use less than 10%.
Because it's a fatty acid ester, it may not be fungal acne safe since the Malassezia yeast can utilize it as a nutrient source.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateWater. 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
