What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantTranexamic Acid
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialCarica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
HumectantVitis Vinifera
MaskingBisabolol
MaskingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant4-Butylresorcinol
AntioxidantTetrasodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantWater, Niacinamide, Alpha-Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera, Bisabolol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, 4-Butylresorcinol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeCetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Bisabolol
MaskingChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTranexamoyl Dipeptide-23
BleachingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Trehalose, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Chlorphenesin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-23, Alpha-Arbutin, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinBisabolol is famous for its skin soothing properties. It does this by blocking inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
This ingredient also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
All these properties makes bisabolol a great skin barrier helper ingredient.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Note: Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Learn more about BisabololButylene 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 GlycolChlorphenesin 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 ChlorphenesinGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water