What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tranexamic Acid
AstringentDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGlutamic Acid
HumectantPhragmites Karka Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientΑ-Olefin Oligomer
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientErythritol
HumectantBeheneth-5
EmulsifyingMethicone
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientCopernicia Cerifera Wax
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantMethacrylic Acid/Sodium Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonate Copolymer
Trimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientC13-16 Isoparaffin
SolventSodium Citrate
BufferingPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTranexamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glutamic Acid, Phragmites Karka Extract, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Diglycerin, Silica, Behenyl Alcohol, Α-Olefin Oligomer, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Erythritol, Beheneth-5, Methicone, Petrolatum, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Batyl Alcohol, PEG-8, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Methacrylic Acid/Sodium Acrylamidomethyl Propane Sulfonate Copolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Sodium Citrate, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Sodium Metaphosphate, Succinoglycan, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantΑ-Olefin Oligomer
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientPEG-90
HumectantPetrolatum
EmollientDecamethyltetrasiloxane
Behenyl Alcohol
EmollientBatyl Alcohol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantCalcium Chloride
AstringentMagnesium Chloride
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sodium PCA
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAllantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Water, Glycerin, Α-Olefin Oligomer, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PEG-90, Petrolatum, Decamethyltetrasiloxane, Behenyl Alcohol, Batyl Alcohol, Carbomer, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
We don't have a description for Batyl Alcohol yet.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButylene 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 GlycyrrhizateDipropylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether yet.
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate is an emollient that helps make your skin smooth and hydrated. It specializes in creating a non-oily and "wet" feeling on skin.
This ingredient comes from isostearic acid, a saturated fatty acid. It is a synthetic ingredient.
Petrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.
This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.
Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.
The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.
Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.
Petrolatum is fungal acne safe. It is a hydrocarbon with no fatty acid structure, so Malassezia cannot metabolize it. In-vitro studies support negligible growth stimulation as well.
It's also worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.
Learn more about PetrolatumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
We don't have a description for Sodium Metaphosphate yet.
Water. 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 WaterWe don't have a description for Α-Olefin Oligomer yet.