What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitol
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingKojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Glutathione
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sorbitol, Myristic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Kojic Dipalmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alpha-Arbutin, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Glutathione, Tocopherol, Water
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-ArbutinKojic Dipalmitate is an oil-soluble ester of Kojic Acid. It was created by bonding Kojic Acid with two Palmitic Acid chains to solve the instability of regular Kojic Acid.
This ingredient is able to stay stable across a wide pH range (~3-10) and easier to work with in formulations.
On the skin, the enzymes found in our skin cells break down this ingredient to release kojic acid where it then gets to work inhibiting melanin production. This makes it popular in products that target hyperpigmentation, dark spots, melasma, and uneven skin tone.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in concentrations between 0.4 - 4%. Research has shown it can be more effective when combined with ingredients like Acetyl Glucosamine, Alpha Arbutin, or Vitamin C.
Because Kojic Dipalmitate is lipophilic (fat-loving), it is usually incorporated into the oil phase of a formulation and functions as a mild emollient. It is also considered more gentle than kojic acid because it doesn't directly form hydrogen bonds with skin proteins in the same way,
However, be sure to patch test this ingredient if you have sensitivities to Kojic Acid or Palmitic Acid.
Due to the Palmitic Acid, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Kojic DipalmitatePhenoxyethanol 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.
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
