What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Amylopectin
CI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycolic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Panthenol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sclerotium Gum, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Amylopectin, CI 75120
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Niacinamide
Smoothing
C12-18 Alkanoyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Phytic Acid
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Elaeis Guineensis Butter
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Hectorite
AbsorbentBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit
MaskingViola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Peat Extract
Skin ConditioningJuniperus Virginiana Oil
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Isochrysis Galbana Extract
Skin ConditioningNannochloropsis Gaditana Extract
Antioxidant
Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Squalene
Emollient
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lecithin
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-80
CleansingDidecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingBeta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMethylpropanediol
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCistus Ladaniferus Resin
MaskingStyrax Benzoin Resin Extract
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Glycolic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, C12-18 Alkanoyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Gluconolactone, Phytic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Elaeis Guineensis Butter, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Hectorite, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Alcohol, Tranexamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Peat Extract, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Isochrysis Galbana Extract, Nannochloropsis Gaditana Extract, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Squalene, Phosphatidylcholine, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Lauryl Alcohol, Ethoxydiglycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Polyquaternium-80, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Beta-Sitosterol, Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract, Xanthan Gum, Methylpropanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Stearic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cistus Ladaniferus Resin, Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinGlycolic Acid is arguably the most famous alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) with tons of research backing its benefits.
It is found naturally in sugar cane but the form used in skincare is usually synthetic for purity and stability.
Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells to allow newer and fresher ones to emerge.
AHAs work by breaking down the structural āglueā that holds old skin cells in place. When that buildup is gone, your skin can renew itself more efficiently.
Research also shows glycolic acid stimulates collagen production, helping to firm and thicken the skin over time. This is one of its biggest advantages over other AHAs.
Overall, glycolic acid helps with:
Fun fact: Glycolic acid boosts skin hydration by helping it produce molecules that increase hyaluronic acid naturally.
To work best, glycolic acid products should have a pH between 3-4 (thatās where exfoliation is most effective but still gentle on skin).
The pH and concentration of a product are key to its effectiveness:
It is normal to feel a slight stinging sensation when using glycolic acid. This usually fades as your skin adjusts.
Because glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size in the AHA family, it can penetrate deeper, which enhances its effectiveness but also makes it more likely to irritate sensitive skin.
If your skin is very sensitive or prone to rosacea, glycolic acid may be too strong; in that case, try milder options like lactic acid or a PHA instead.
Recent studies suggest glycolic acid might even help protect against UV damage. But donāt skip sunscreen! Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun.
Glycolic acid is a skincare superstar. It smooths, brightens, hydrates, and firms the skin. Unless youāre highly sensitive, itās well worth adding to your routine.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTranexamic 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
