What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantEnantia Chlorantha Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-20 Stearate
EmulsifyingDimethicone
EmollientPropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantMethylparaben
PreservativeCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-20 Stearate, Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Retinyl Palmitate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Methylparaben, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialButylene Glycol
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSalicylic Acid
MaskingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientAcrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
PEG-100 Stearate
Perlite
AbsorbentPhenylethyl Resorcinol
AntioxidantPoloxamer 338
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveSilica Silylate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentStearyl Alcohol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc PCA
HumectantParfum
MaskingWater, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Octyldodecanol, Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer, Capryloyl Glycine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, Perlite, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Poloxamer 338, Silica, Silica Silylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Zinc PCA, Parfum
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 GlycerinOctyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm (or made synthetically).
It is:
You'll likely see this in many BHA products because this is the go-to solvent for salicylic acid.
This ingredient is typically used at levels between 2-20%.
Regarding fungal acne:
In 2019, this ingredient was tested against multiple Malassezia species (the yeast that causes fungal acne) and showed no growth.
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