What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
Buffering
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Extract
Antioxidant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pullulan
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Kojic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Biotin, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Pullulan, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Salicylic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Laureth-23
Cleansing
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Diethanolamine
BufferingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glutathione
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Triethanolamine
BufferingWater, Methylpropanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Laureth-23, Kojic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Azelaic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Diethanolamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Glutathione, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 GlycerinKojic Acid is a naturally occurring organic acid that is produced during the fermentation of certain fungi. It is one of the most well-studied brightening ingredients (tyrosinase inhibitors) out there.
That's why you'll see Kojic Acid in products that target dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and general uneven skin tone. It also pairs well with other brightening actives like Alpha Arbutin, Glycolic Acid, and Vitamin C derivatives.
By latching onto the copper that the enzyme tyrosinase needs to function, Kojic Acid prevents less pigment from being made. It's so well-established that researchers regularly use it as the go-to benchmark when testing new brightening ingredients.
Some other perks include documented antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) Expert Panel concluded Kojic Acid is safe for use in cosmetic products at concentrations up to 1% and the EU's SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) considers it safe as a skin lightening agent at concentrations up to 0.7%.
One thing to know about Kojic Acid is that stability is its weak spot; it is sensitive to light, heat, and air exposure and will oxidize/turn brown in formulations. Its derivative, Kojic Dipalmitate, was developed as a stable alternative.
Some individuals have reported contact sensitization so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or sensitive skin.
Fun fact: It was first discovered in 1907 and naturally occurs in the production of sake, soy sauce, and miso.
Learn more about Kojic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
