This smoothing ampoule is formulated around Salicylic Acid and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to refine skin texture and refine the look of pores.
This brightening ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide and Oryza Sativa Extract to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningTripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Tetrapeptide-5
HumectantAcetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-9
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-11
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tromethamine, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Hexapeptide-11, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcrylates Copolymer
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingC15-23 Alkane
SolventC13-14 Alkane
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPantolactone
HumectantOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentTocopherol
AntioxidantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, C15-23 Alkane, C13-14 Alkane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pantolactone, Oryza Sativa Extract, Tocopherol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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
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 GlycolDipropylene 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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