What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octanediol
Dextrin
AbsorbentWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Tranexamic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Ethoxydiglycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Hexylresorcinol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Allantoin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Glycerin, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Citric Acid, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristic Acid, Behenic Acid, Stearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Octanediol, Dextrin
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Methylpropanediol
SolventBetaine
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAlgin
Masking
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Calcium Chloride
AstringentCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Niacinamide, Alpha-Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Betaine, Diglycerin, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglycerin-3, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Algin, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Chloride, CI 19140, Caramel
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideTranexamic Acid (TXA) is a synthetic lysine derivative that is becoming one of the most exciting brightening ingredients in skincare.
Originally used in medicine as an anti-hemorrhagic agent, its skin brightening potential was discovered by accident; patients taking it orally started noticing their melasma was fading.
Unlike most brighteners that target tyrosinase (the enzyme that synthesizes melanin), TXA works further upstream. It basically blocks your cells from receiving the signal to produce pigment.
This makes it one of the rare actives that works on three pathways at once:
This makes it effective for treating melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and sun-induced dark spots.
The most effective cosmetic concentration sits between 2-5% and going higher doesn't boost results.
Side effects are generally mild; occasional irritation, flaking, or dryness have been reported at the start of use. Overall, this ingredient is pretty well tolerated, even by sensitive skin types.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it does not cause photosensitivity, so it's safe to use in the AM and PM.
Learn more about Tranexamic 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
