What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Cichorium Intybus Root Extract
MaskingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Oil
Cleansing
Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningGlycoproteins
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningCystine
MaskingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Mannitol
Humectant
Ergosterol
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Carbomer/Papain Crosspolymer
Phytic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingAlgin
Masking
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Citrus Species Peel Extract
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactic Acid, Ergothioneine, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Tocopherol, Sodium PCA, Fructooligosaccharides, Bioflavonoids, Glycoproteins, Glycine, Squalane, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Beta-Carotene, Cystine, Pentylene Glycol, Mannitol, Ergosterol, Xanthan Gum, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Carbomer/Papain Crosspolymer, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Limonene, Citrus Species Peel Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Octocrylene
UV Absorber
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentMethylpropanediol
SolventIsobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol
Bleaching
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucosylrutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Dimethicone
Emollient
Isoquercitrin
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Chloride
MaskingTrisodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Octocrylene, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Distarch Phosphate, Methylpropanediol, Isobutylamido Thiazolyl Resorcinol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Tocopherol, Glucosylrutin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Isoquercitrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Trisodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about MethylpropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
