What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventSqualane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ceteareth-20
CleansingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingParfum
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningCystine
MaskingGlutathione
Silica
Abrasive
Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Methylpropanediol, Squalane, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Ceteareth-20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bisabolol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine, Glutamine, Cystine, Glutathione, Silica, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phloretin
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Tetrapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSorbitol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Phloretin, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tetrapeptide-30, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Carnosine, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Glutathione, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Gold, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Triethanolamine, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
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 EDTAGlutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in our bodies. It is made up of three amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid.
As an antioxidant, it prevents oxidative damage to parts of our cell.
While glutathione is said to help with fading dark spots, the results from research are inconclusive. Further studies are needed. With that said, gluthatione has been shown to protect our skin from UV-B induced damage.
This ingredient is naturally occurring in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria.
Learn more about GlutathioneGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
