What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract
AstringentAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
PEG-100 Stearate
PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer
Triethanolamine
BufferingPolyporus Umbellatus Extract
Skin ProtectingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Dimethicone
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
Water, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit/Leaf Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Squalane, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Alpha-Arbutin, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8/Smdi Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycereth-26
Humectant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningUndecane
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Tridecane
Perfuming
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Glabridin
BleachingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Olive Glycerides
Emulsifying
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Lecithin
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Water, Niacinamide, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Alpha-Arbutin, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Glycereth-26, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Undecane, Propanediol, Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Tridecane, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Plankton Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glycerin, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Xylitylglucoside, Glabridin, Madecassoside, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Olive Glycerides, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lecithin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid
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-ArbutinDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
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.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractPeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
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 Water
