What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMorus Alba Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Tranexamic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Diglucosyl Gallic Acid
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Disodium EDTA
Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Tocophersolan
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Butylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, Madecassoside, Ergothioneine, Glycosaminoglycans, Soluble Collagen, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Hexylresorcinol, Disodium EDTA, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocophersolan, Pentylene Glycol, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Asiaticoside
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
Butylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinTranexamic Acid (TXA) is a synthetic lysine derivative that is becoming one of the most exciting brightening ingredients in skincare.
Originally used in medicine as an anti-hemorrhagic agent, its skin brightening potential was discovered by accident; patients taking it orally started noticing their melasma was fading.
Unlike most brighteners that target tyrosinase (the enzyme that synthesizes melanin), TXA works further upstream. It basically blocks your cells from receiving the signal to produce pigment.
This makes it one of the rare actives that works on three pathways at once:
This makes it effective for treating melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and sun-induced dark spots.
The most effective cosmetic concentration sits between 2-5% and going higher doesn't boost results.
Side effects are generally mild; occasional irritation, flaking, or dryness have been reported at the start of use. Overall, this ingredient is pretty well tolerated, even by sensitive skin types.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it does not cause photosensitivity, so it's safe to use in the AM and PM.
Learn more about Tranexamic AcidWater. 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
