What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sorbitan Fatty Acid Ester
EmulsifyingCocos Nucifera Oil
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root
Skin ConditioningDMDM Hydantoin
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Tetrasodium EDTA
Pantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Thiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantCalcium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningWater, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Fatty Acid Ester, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root, DMDM Hydantoin, Potassium Sorbate, Kojic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Ubiquinone, Thioctic Acid, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Calcium Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Cyanocobalamin
Water
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate-13
Squalane
Emollient
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Collagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Polyacrylate-13, Squalane, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Collagen Amino Acids, Polysorbate 20, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Arbutin, Glutathione, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Kojic Acid is a naturally occurring organic acid that is produced during the fermentation of certain fungi. It is one of the most well-studied brightening ingredients (tyrosinase inhibitors) out there.
That's why you'll see Kojic Acid in products that target dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and general uneven skin tone. It also pairs well with other brightening actives like Alpha Arbutin, Glycolic Acid, and Vitamin C derivatives.
By latching onto the copper that the enzyme tyrosinase needs to function, Kojic Acid prevents less pigment from being made. It's so well-established that researchers regularly use it as the go-to benchmark when testing new brightening ingredients.
Some other perks include documented antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) Expert Panel concluded Kojic Acid is safe for use in cosmetic products at concentrations up to 1% and the EU's SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) considers it safe as a skin lightening agent at concentrations up to 0.7%.
One thing to know about Kojic Acid is that stability is its weak spot; it is sensitive to light, heat, and air exposure and will oxidize/turn brown in formulations. Its derivative, Kojic Dipalmitate, was developed as a stable alternative.
Some individuals have reported contact sensitization so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or sensitive skin.
Fun fact: It was first discovered in 1907 and naturally occurs in the production of sake, soy sauce, and miso.
Learn more about Kojic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
