This brightening essence is formulated around Oryza Sativa Extract and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This smoothing toner is formulated around Gluconolactone and Salicylic Acid to refine skin texture and clear breakouts.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Oryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Butylene Glycol
HumectantHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantOryza Sativa Extract, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
AntioxidantGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTromethamine
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
BufferingDextrin
AbsorbentCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSalicylic Acid
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantBeta Vulgaris Root Extract, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Trehalose, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Gluconolactone, Allantoin, Glycolic Acid, Dextrin, Cyanocobalamin, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EDTAHydroxyacetophenone is a small phenolic molecule that earns its place in a formulas as an antioxidant and preservative booster.
As a phenol, it is able to neutralize free radicals to protect both the product and the skin from oxidative stress.
Though it can't kill microbes on its own, it works as a good supporting agent when combined with other preservatives like Phenoxyethanol or 1,2-Hexanediol.
This ingredient naturally occurs as piceol in Norwegian spruce needles (~0.4-1.1% dry weight and in cloudberries). Though the cosmetic-grade material is synthesized for purity and consistency.
You'll usually see it used at low levels and suppliers recommend up to 1% added to a water phase.
Safety testing was done at concentrations like 0.05% in SPF products and 0.5% in a Human Repeated Insult Patch Test. The safety evidence is assuring; this ingredient is safe for cosmetics in current use and also holds safety status as a food flavoring as well.
An honest caveat: the "soothing" and "anti-inflammatory" claims come mostly from supplier marketing rather than published clinical trials. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review's own literature search found no useful efficacy studies on this ingredient.
So the antioxidant and preservative-boosting roles are the well supported ones while the calming benefit is plausible but thinly evidenced.
Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-irritation multitasker that quietly helps a formula stay fresh and stable.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneWater. 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