What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Isosorbide Dicaprylate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Oil
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingKojic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Arthrospira Platensis Extract
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil
Skin Conditioning
Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate
Skin ProtectingPunica Granatum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCollagen Amino Acids
Moisturising
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantSpinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Origanum Vulgare Oil
Masking
Thymus Vulgaris Oil
Masking
Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Bark Extract
Antioxidant
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Amber Powder
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tranexamic Acid, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Niacinamide, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Xanthan Gum, Kojic Acid, Lactic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Arthrospira Platensis Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil, Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Collagen Amino Acids, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Spinacia Oleracea Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Origanum Vulgare Oil, Thymus Vulgaris Oil, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Amber Powder, Hydroxyacetophenone
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCocoglycerides
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, C13-15 Alkane, Cocoglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Cetearyl Olivate, Alpha-Arbutin, Citric Acid, Ferulic Acid, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol, Malic Acid, Gluconolactone, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinButylene 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 AcidSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
