What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
Masking
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hectorite
AbsorbentHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
Cleansing
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Water
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid 2%, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Hectorite, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Water, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
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 GlycerinSalicylic 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, itβs 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 AcidSodium 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 Water
