What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No 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 ConditioningPropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTranexamic Acid
AstringentAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantUndecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
AntioxidantHexylresorcinol
AntimicrobialDimethylmethoxy Chromanol
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tranexamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Alpha-Arbutin, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Hexylresorcinol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideTranexamic 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 AcidXanthan 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