What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydroquinone 2%
Stabilising
Glycerin
Humectant
Montan/Stearic Glycerides
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Propylparaben
Preservative
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
PEG-90
HumectantStearic Acid
Cleansing
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Pea Palmitate
Skin ConditioningParaffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Hydroquinone 2%, Glycerin, Montan/Stearic Glycerides, Butylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Cyclopentasiloxane, BHT, Methyl Gluceth-10, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Propylparaben, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water, Methylparaben, Isopropyl Myristate, PEG-90, Stearic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Pea Palmitate, Paraffinum Liquidum
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Punica Granatum Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningSoy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Pueraria Mirifica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialOriganum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Eucommia Ulmoides Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Porphyridium Cruentum Culture Conditioned Media
Antioxidant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Yeast Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningChamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract
Antioxidant
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Lysine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Threonine
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Valine
MaskingMethionine
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningTyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Heptanoate
Emollient
Ethyl Olivate
Emollient
Olea Europaea Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Punica Granatum Callus Culture Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Pueraria Mirifica Root Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Origanum Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Eucommia Ulmoides Bark Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Culture Conditioned Media, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Yeast Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Maltodextrin, Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract, Sophora Japonica Fruit Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Lysine, Histidine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Threonine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Proline, Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Methionine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Cysteine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Viola Mandshurica Flower Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Panthenol, Betaine, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Heptanoate, Ethyl Olivate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Caramel, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Parfum
Alternatives
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 GlycolCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
