What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 1.5%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
Masking
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
CI 77510
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Glycolate
BufferingSodium Formate
Buffering
Lactobacillus Extract Filtrate
HumectantSalicylic Acid 1.5%, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Coconut Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Isethionate, Xanthan Gum, Menthoxypropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, CI 77891, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Mica, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, CI 77510, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Tin Oxide, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Lactobacillus Extract Filtrate
Sulfacetamide Sodium 10%
Zinc Pyrithione 0.5%
Antiseborrhoeic
Salicylic Acid 1%
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cleansing
Acrylates Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Coconut Alcohol
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXylitol
Humectant
PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate
Emulsifying
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Isethionate
CleansingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Sulfacetamide Sodium 10%, Zinc Pyrithione 0.5%, Salicylic Acid 1%, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Propanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Coconut Alcohol, Coco-Glucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Panthenol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xylitol, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Isethionate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Glucose, Potassium Sorbate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbatePropanediol 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 PropanediolSalicylic 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 AcidSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
This ingredient hasn’t been shown in studies to feed fungal acne yeast.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium 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 HydroxideWe don't have a description for Sodium Isethionate yet.
Stearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic 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
