What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantΑ-Olefin Oligomer
Glycerin
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Tricaprylin
Perfuming
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingDisodium EDTA
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tranexamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Dipropylene Glycol, Α-Olefin Oligomer, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Tricaprylin, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Carbomer, Sodium Bisulfite, Xanthan Gum, Phenethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Sesquioleate
Emulsifying
Squalane
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingMethylparaben
Preservative
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Disodium EDTA
Menthol
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camphor
Masking
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Squalane, Triethylhexanoin, Methylparaben, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tranexamic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Menthol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camphor, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
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 GlycolDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDisodium 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 EDTASodium 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 Acid
