What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Bacillus/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed/Soybean Ferment Filtrate
Antioxidant
Secale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingDiglycerin
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTranexamic Acid, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Bacillus/Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed/Soybean Ferment Filtrate, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Benzyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Diglycerin, Xanthan Gum
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract
TonicSecale Cereale Seed Extract
Abrasive
Glycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Silk
Humectant
Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Hedta
AbsorbentPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Paraben
Preservative
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside, Tranexamic Acid, Ceramide AP, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Paeonia Officinalis Flower Extract, Secale Cereale Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Hydrolyzed Silk, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hedta, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer, Sodium Metabisulfite, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Paraben, Water
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidHydrogenated Castor Oil (aka "castor wax") is what you get when castor oil is turned into a wax.
Its dominant fatty acid is ricinoleic acid, giving it both emollient and mild humectant properties.
According to EU CosIng, this ingredient helps soften skin, keep oil and water stay mixed, and thickens products.
Hydrogenated castor oil at 30% did not trigger a positive patch-test reaction and is well-tolerated.
Since this ingredient is based on an 18-carbon fatty acid, it falls into the chain-length range that Malassezia can feed on and may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Hydrogenated Castor OilPhenoxyethanol 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.
Secale Cereale Seed Extract is an exfoliant.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTranexamic 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 Acid
