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
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientPalmitic Acid
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea
EmollientPolyacrylate-13
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingMannitol
HumectantC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPanax Ginseng Root Water
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPerilla Ocymoides Seed Extract
AntioxidantMyristic Acid
CleansingArachidic Acid
CleansingCholesterol
EmollientBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantSilica
AbrasiveGlycine Max Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCanola Oil
EmollientRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Stearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Polyacrylate-13, Arachidyl Glucoside, Mannitol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Caprylate, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Cholesterol, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Glucose, Silica, Glycine Max Oil, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Canola Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
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 GlycerinSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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