What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin)
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tranexamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-12 Olefin), Glycerin, Diglycerin, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Sodium Metabisulfite, Xanthan Gum, Behenyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Myristyl Stearate
EmollientPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Inonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTheobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-6
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Trehalose
Humectant
Opuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Yeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningTapioca Starch
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, Methylpropanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Myristyl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Trideceth-6, Disodium EDTA, Trehalose, Opuntia Streptacantha Stem Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Yeast Polysaccharides, Tapioca Starch, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeDisodium 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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.
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. 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
