What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Salicylic Acid 2%
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantKaolin
AbrasiveZinc Sulfate
AntimicrobialBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantHydrolyzed Algin
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Biosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingSalicylic Acid 2%, Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Kaolin, Zinc Sulfate, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Algin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum
Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCeteareth-20
CleansingDimethicone
EmollientSucrose
HumectantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPoria Cocos Sclerotium Extract
AstringentPolymethyl Methacrylate
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingGentiana Lutea Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAstrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
EmollientAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMyristyl Alcohol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantZeolite
AbsorbentAlgae Extract
EmollientLinoleic Acid
Cleansing10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPropylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientCapryloyl Glycine
CleansingHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningQuaternium-22
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Chloroxylenol
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantBenzoyl Peroxide 2.5%, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Sucrose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Myristyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Zeolite, Algae Extract, Linoleic Acid, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Caffeine, Cholesterol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Capryloyl Glycine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Quaternium-22, Caprylyl Glycol, Isohexadecane, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Chloroxylenol, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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