I'm from Mugwort Serum Versus Kosé Melanoshot
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract 57%
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Allium Sativum Bulb Extract 3%
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Dextrin
AbsorbentCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Cellulose
Absorbent
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract 57%, Butylene Glycol, 2,3-Butanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Water, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Allium Sativum Bulb Extract 3%, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Erythritol, Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-10, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sclerotium Gum, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Dextrin, Ceramide NP, Beta-Glucan, Cellulose, Polyglutamic Acid, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate
Emollient
Acetyl Hydroxyproline
EmollientChaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Glycogen
HumectantGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingKojic Acid
Antioxidant
Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
Antioxidant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Pericarp Extract
Skin ConditioningAluminum Hydroxide
EmollientBenzophenone-5
UV Absorber
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingEthyl Oleate
Emollient
Gellan Gum
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Polyacrylamide
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTriceteareth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylparaben
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Glycerin, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Acetyl Hydroxyproline, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Glycogen, Glycosyl Trehalose, Kojic Acid, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Resveratrol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Pericarp Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Benzophenone-5, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethyl Oleate, Gellan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Laureth-7, PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyacrylamide, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate, Triceteareth-4 Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Parfum, Caramel, CI 77891
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinTocopherol 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 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
