What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAnanas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melatonin
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Kojic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melatonin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
C15-19 Alkane
SolventKojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
UV Absorber
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Polyacrylamide
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingWater, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tranexamic Acid, C15-19 Alkane, Kojic Dipalmitate, Silica, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Laureth-7, Alcohol, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTranexamic 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
