What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
PEG-90
HumectantCocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Saururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningPersea Gratissima Fruit Extract
EmollientHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningBambusa Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propolis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
PEG-100 Stearate
Polyquaternium-7
Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Sodium Chloride
MaskingDisodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-14m
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, PEG-90, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Gluconolactone, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Propolis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyquaternium-7, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Carbomer, PEG-14m
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Seedcake
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Isethionate
CleansingHydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Masking
Polygonum Fagopyrum Flour
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-67
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Asparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Hyssopus Officinalis Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Hydrolyzed Sweet Almond Seedcake, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Coconut Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Polygonum Fagopyrum Flour, Dextrin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-67, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Bakuchiol, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hyssopus Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
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 GlycolCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateWater. 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
