What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningKojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Betaine
Humectant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Morus Alba Extract
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Lecithin
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Water, Kojic Dipalmitate, Niacinamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Arbutin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Morus Alba Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Gluconate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateXanthan 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
