What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentButylene Glycol
HumectantDiglycerin
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingHydroxylated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
BufferingTocopherol
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantDisodium 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
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningGlutamic Acid
HumectantArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAspartic Acid
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Histidine
HumectantAlanine
MaskingPhenylalanine
MaskingCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantPlacental Protein
HumectantArbutin
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantBetaine
HumectantSqualane
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingIsostearic Acid
CleansingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
EmollientPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Glutamic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Aspartic Acid, Serine, Valine, Proline, Isoleucine, Threonine, Histidine, Alanine, Phenylalanine, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Placental Protein, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Betaine, Squalane, Triethylhexanoin, Isostearic Acid, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 20, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 EDTAMagnesium 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 PhosphatePhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Water. 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