This brightening toner is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.
This anti-aging ampoule is formulated around Portulaca Oleracea Extract and Adenosine to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
Antioxidant
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Poloxamer 184
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rheum Palmatum Root Extract
Astringent
Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract
AstringentRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Astringent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract
Antioxidant
Pueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Poloxamer 184, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Psidium Guajava Leaf Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Poncirus Trifoliata Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Portulaca Oleracea Extract 76%
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Tridentata Extract
Skin ConditioningMusa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract
Skin Protecting
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Dextrin
AbsorbentPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantDisodium EDTA
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingEthyl Hexanediol
SolventMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Polyacrylamide
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
PEG-5 Soy Sterol
EmulsifyingCholesterol
Emollient
PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol
CleansingTromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCeteth-5
EmulsifyingCeteth-3
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPortulaca Oleracea Extract 76%, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Glycerin, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Artemisia Tridentata Extract, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Acetyl Glutamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dextrin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Caramel, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Ethyl Hexanediol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Pantolactone, Polyacrylamide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, PEG-5 Soy Sterol, Cholesterol, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Ceteth-5, Ceteth-3, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
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 GlycolDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
