This brightening essence is formulated around Niacinamide and Alpha-Arbutin to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
HumectantOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantGlyceryl Glucoside
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningWithania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isopentyldiol, Octyldodeceth-16, Alpha-Arbutin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Carbomer, Adenosine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Tromethamine, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningGlucose
HumectantAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Fructooligosaccharides
HumectantFructose
HumectantTromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCholeth-24
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTocopherol
AntioxidantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Betaine, Panthenol, Trehalose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Glucose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Allantoin, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a synthetically created polymer. It's used as a film-forming agent and used to thicken the consistency of products.
Think of it as a supportive ingredient that helps your gel-creams feel silky, "cloud cream-like", and spread evenly without being greasy.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel evaluated it (along with 22 other acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers) and concluded it's:
Due to its large molecular size, it sits on the surface of skin rather than penetrating it.
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp CopolymerButylene 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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerGlycerin (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 GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolTocopherol 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 TocopherolTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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