What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tranexamic Acid
AstringentPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantLauryl Betaine
CleansingXylitol
HumectantMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentInositol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24
EmulsifyingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialErythritol
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Sodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingDiglycerin
HumectantPEG-150
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingTranexamic Acid, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Hydroxyproline, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Soluble Collagen, Lauryl Betaine, Xylitol, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Inositol, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Chlorphenesin, Erythritol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Diglycerin, PEG-150, Carbomer, Methyl Gluceth-10, Citric Acid
Tranexamic Acid
AstringentPaeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentHydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSoluble Collagen
HumectantPhytosteryl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningMelilotus Officinalis Extract
AstringentInositol
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantC13-16 Isoparaffin
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantTriethylhexanoin
MaskingPPG-4-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPEG-10 Phytosterol
EmulsifyingPEG-150 Distearate
EmulsifyingMyristyl Myristate
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingPEG-32
HumectantBeheneth-20
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePEG-400
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPPG-7
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Ether
SolventLauryl Betaine
CleansingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialTranexamic Acid, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Hydroxyproline, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Soluble Collagen, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Inositol, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Triethylhexanoin, PPG-4-Ceteth-20, Sodium Metabisulfite, PEG-10 Phytosterol, PEG-150 Distearate, Myristyl Myristate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, PEG-32, Beheneth-20, Carbomer, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-400, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-7, Dimethyl Ether, Lauryl Betaine, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, PEG/PPG-20/23 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract yet.
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 GlycolCarbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerChlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinDiglycerin is a humectant. It is derived from glycerin, which is naturally found in your skin.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture to the skin from the air.
Dipropylene 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 EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Hydroxyproline yet.
Inositol is a sugar alcohol naturally found in the human body. Our bodies use this ingredient in the process of growing new cells.
Studies show inositol to be a key component for keratinocyte growth.
Keratinocytes make up the majority of the outermost layer of skin. These cells protect our skin from UV exposure, infection, and help keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient is also considered a humectant. Humectants help hydrate the skin by drawing moisture to it.
Learn more about InositolLauryl Betaine is a cleansing ingredient. You'll most likely see it in face washes, body washes, and shampoos. It's a type of surfactant that helps water mix with oil so dirt, sweat, and sunscreen can rinse off easily.
Chemically, lauryl betaine is an amphoteric surfactant so it carries both a positive and negative charge. This helps it create a creamy foam while being less harsh than stronger detergent-type cleansers.
According to CIR, this ingredient is generally considered safe when used in cosmetics. However, like all surfactants, it can be irritating when used in high amounts of in formulas that aren't well balanced.
Learn more about Lauryl BetaineWe don't have a description for Melilotus Officinalis Extract yet.
This ingredient comes from the root of Paeonia albiflora, aka as Radix Paeoniae Alba or the Chinese peony. It has skin conditioning properties and is rich in antioxidant compounds.
Recent research shows Paeonia Albiflora root extract helps slow down glycation. Glycation is a process where sugars damage skin proteins and contribute to dullness/uneven skin tone.
In human studies, a lotion with 1% Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract led to lower melanin levels and fewer visible dark spots after two weeks of use. In vitro and ex vivo studies support its role in regulating the process of pigment production and reducing inflammation in skin cells.
Additionally, this ingredient has been shown to promote keratinocyte migration and proliferation in wound healing models.
Paeonia Albiflora root extract is water-soluble and has a low irritation profile for most skin types. Like other botanical extracts, patch testing is recommended for people who have known plant allergies or reactive skin.
Learn more about Paeonia Albiflora Root ExtractParfum 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 ParfumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
This extract comes from Rosa centifolia petals and flowers. It has astringent, masking, skin conditioning, and tonic properties.
The compounds in this ingredient can give skin a toning feel, which is why it's sometimes described as a mild astringent. It's often described as a tonic because rose ingredients have long been used in facial waters and toners for refreshing the skin.
Rosa centifolia has a natural floral scent that can mask or soften unpleasant odors from other ingredients.
Like other botanical extracts, people with very fragrance-sensitive skin may prefer to patch test.
Learn more about Rosa Centifolia Flower ExtractSodium metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
Soluble collagen comes from animals and fish. It has a large molecule size, meaning it doesn't get absorbed into skin.
Instead, it sits on top of skin as a humectant to improve skin hydration. It has incredible water-binding properties and creates a water barrier on skin that prevents evaporation.
This ingredient is incredibly gentle and often used to counter more irritating ingredients.
While our skin does have collagen, this ingredient is not used by the skin for anti-aging. Applying collagen topically has not been linked to helping with collagen loss in skin. All the benefits of soluble collagen are related to hydration.
Fun fact: The name "soluble collagen" refers to its ability to dissolve in water.
Learn more about Soluble CollagenTranexamic 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 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