Glad2Glow Yuja Symwhite 377 Dark Spot Moisturizer Versus Wardah Nature Daily Witch Hazel Purifying Moisturizer Gel
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Phenylethyl Resorcinol to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycereth-26
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPolyacrylate-13
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeramide Ns
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingAroma
Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Betaine, Isopropyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Glycereth-26, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate-13, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide AP, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Ceramide NP, Tetrapeptide-1, Nonapeptide-1, Polyisobutene, Pentylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Aroma, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientCyclotetrasiloxane
EmollientBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTriethanolamine
BufferingAcrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer
MoisturisingParaffinum Liquidum
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingBHT
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingPolysorbate 85
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeHamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Benzyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Carbomer, Parfum, BHT, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Polysorbate 85, Phenoxyethanol, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, CI 42090, CI 19140
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 AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPolysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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