What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Squalane
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycol Distearate
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sucrose
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingArginine
Masking
Disodium EDTA
PEG-8
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Spirulina Maxima Extract
SmoothingEthylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate
Emulsifying
Sodium Isostearate
CleansingNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract
Cosmetic ColorantMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycol Distearate, C14-22 Alcohols, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, PEG-8, Glycerin, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Beta-Glucan, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phosphate, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Sodium Isostearate, Nonapeptide-1, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Disodium Phosphate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydroxylated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Diglycerin, PEG-8, PEG-6, PEG-32, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxylated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
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 GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is used in skincare because it tends to be more formulation friendly than pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
According to research, MAP has three major benefits:
While MAP is gentler on the skin than ascorbic acid, it is thought to be less easily absorbed into the skin.
In a well-known absorption study, pure vitamin C increased skin vitamin C levels when formulated correctly, but derivatives like MAP did not in that experiment. This suggests MAP may not always convert into active vitamin C in the skin.
Due to MAP's stability up to a pH level of 7, it is more stable to air and sunlight exposure than ascorbic acid. The best pH range for MAP is between 5 and 6.
Learn more about Magnesium Ascorbyl PhosphatePEG-8 is a synthetic polymer used as a humectant and solvent.
This ingredient is able to help dissolve active ingredients, including water. This gives it humectant properties.
It is soluble in water. The number '8' stands for the molecular weight of the ingredient.
Learn more about PEG-8Pentylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateTranexamic 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 AcidWater. 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
