What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningNelumbo Nucifera Extract
Skin ConditioningPerilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
MaskingChrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin ConditioningAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingCastanea Crenata Shell Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentPolylysine
Lecithin
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingGlutathione
Ectoin
Skin ConditioningButyrum
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tranexamic Acid, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Glycerin, Panthenol, Allantoin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Betaine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Trehalose, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Dextrin, Polylysine, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glutathione, Ectoin, Butyrum
Water
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentBetaine
HumectantPropanediol
SolventAzelaic Acid
BufferingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantCitrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycerin
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-6
HumectantInulin
Skin ConditioningFructose
HumectantGlucose
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Phytate
Cellulose
AbsorbentWater, Gluconolactone, Pentylene Glycol, Isopentyldiol, Tranexamic Acid, Betaine, Propanediol, Azelaic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Allantoin, Polyglycerin-6, Inulin, Fructose, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose
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 AllantoinBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineGlycerin (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 GlycerinTranexamic 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