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 ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion Stabilising
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
BHT
Antioxidant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPolymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment
Skin ProtectingPhytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Alpha-Arbutin, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, BHT, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Trehalose, Maltodextrin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel, Lactobacillus, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Cholesterol, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Phytosphingosine
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
Alpha-Arbutin is a brightening active used to fade dark spots, melasma, and post-acne marks. Structurally, it is a hydroquinone with a sugar molecule attached (but is much gentler than raw hydroquinone).
It has a pretty elegant way of working; it slots into tyrosinase, or the key enzyme that your skin uses to make melanin), and competitively blocks it so your skin produces less pigment over time.
There are two forms of arbutin and alpha is the better one to reach for: it works at lower amounts, absorbs into skin more easily, and has a strong safety record.
The science backs this up too: lab and animal studies confirm it lowers melanin by blocking tyosinase and the more you use (up to a point), the more it works.
Human studies look good too.
A 2024 trial found a cream with 5% alpha-arbutin and 2% kojic acid worked about as well as a prescription melasma cream but with fewer side effects. Another study showed 2% alpha-arbutin paired with 10% Trihydroxybenzoic Acid Glucoside and sunscreen faded dark spots and melasma without causing irritation.
Concentration-wise, most serums land in the 1-2% range.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded that alpha-arbutin is safe in face creams up to 2% and body lotions up to 0.5%.
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-irritation brightener that's a great pick for anyone dealing with uneven skin tone. It also pairs well with vitamin C, niacinamide, and sunscreen.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinButylene 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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinHydrogenated Lecithin is a more stable version of lecithin.
It's made by taking lecithin (a phospholipid commonly found in soybeans and egg yolks) and hydrogenating it. This just means the unsaturated fatty acids are turned into saturated ones so they don't go bad as easily.
This ingredient is an emollient, emulsifier, and penetration enhancer. As an emollient, it helps soften and hydrate skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Hydrogenated Lecithin can form tiny spherical structures made of phospholipid bilayers called liposomes. These liposomes are able to capture compounds inside their structure and deliver them through the skin barrier.
Because phospholipids are a natural component of our cell membranes, this ingredient is inherently compatible with skin.
A 2021 study found lecithin-based surfactants were less harsh and more tolerable comared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Learn more about Hydrogenated LecithinWater. 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
