What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Yeast
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Betaine
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Methylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Mentha Haplocalix Extract
MaskingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Yeast, Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Betaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Mentha Haplocalix Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
SmoothingMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Salvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Trehalose, Panthenol, Polysorbate 80, Allantoin, Arginine, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s 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 BetaineDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
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.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDisodium 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 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 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
