What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Rumex Occidentalis Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Rhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Tranexamic Acid 0.3%
Astringent
Hyaluronic Acid 0.3%
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid 0.3%
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rumex Occidentalis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Tranexamic Acid 0.3%, Hyaluronic Acid 0.3%, Ascorbic Acid 0.3%, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, EDTA, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 42090
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-32
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Soy Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-2
Bleaching
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCarbenia Benedicta Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Polyglutamate
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCholesterol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, Alpha-Arbutin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-32, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Ectoin, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone, Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone, Soy Amino Acids, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ng, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Ceramide As, Arginine, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ergothioneine, Nonapeptide-1, Oligopeptide-1, Hexapeptide-2, Hexapeptide-9, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Carbenia Benedicta Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Polyglutamate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Carbomer, Cholesterol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AllantoinCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
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.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Tranexamic 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 AcidWater. 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
