What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
Emulsifying
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
HumectantHydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dimethicone, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Propylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Salicylic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Zea Mays Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningMethyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Fomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Trideceth-6
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Xylitol
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Mannitol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Dodecyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Rhamnose
HumectantLaminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Parfum
Masking
Water, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Silica, Pentylene Glycol, Trideceth-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, Disodium EDTA, Salicylic Acid, Xylitol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Fructooligosaccharides, Mannitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Dodecyl Gallate, Rhamnose, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Citric Acid, Parfum
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSalicylic 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 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 HydroxideSodium Polyacrylate is the sodium salt of polyacrylic acid. It is used as an absorber, emollient, and stabilizer.
This ingredient is a super-absorbent polymer - meaning it can absorb 100 to 1000 times its mass in water. As an emollient, Sodium Polyacrylate helps soften and soothe skin. Emollients work by creating a barrier to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
Water. 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
