What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTranexamic Acid
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingIsononyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingMomordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantGlutathione
Madecassoside
AntioxidantCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTropolone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingCentella Asiatica Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Glutathione, Madecassoside, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine
Water
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingMomordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin Conditioning
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume.
Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside.
In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin.
There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection.
Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums.
A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity.
The quality of the extract matters a lot here:
Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients.
Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water).
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractGlutathione 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 GlutathioneWe don't have a description for Leontopodium Alpinum Extract yet.
We don't have a description for Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract yet.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSambucus Nigra Flower Extract comes from the European Elder Tree. It's a polyphenol-rich extract that give it antioxidant, skin soothing, and tonic properties.
In-vitro studies show elder extracts can inhibit collagenase (or the enzyme that degrades collagen), including the ones triggered by UV damage from the sun.
This ingredient is generally well-tolerated unless you have a known elder or Adoxaceae allergy.
Learn more about Sambucus Nigra Flower ExtractSodium 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 HyaluronateTranexamic 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 Acid