What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydroquinone 5%
Stabilising
Tretinoin 0.03%
Skin Conditioning
Dexamethasone 0.03%
Propylene Glycol 0.3%
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methyl 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate
Skin ConditioningPropylparaben
Preservative
BHA
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
PEG-40 Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
Cleansing
Paraffin
Perfuming
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Petrolatum
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV Absorber
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV Absorber
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Camphor
Masking
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Sorbitol 70%
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningHydroquinone 5%, Tretinoin 0.03%, Dexamethasone 0.03%, Propylene Glycol 0.3%, Cetyl Alcohol, Methyl 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate, Propylparaben, BHA, BHT, PEG-40 Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Paraffin, Isopropyl Myristate, Petrolatum, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Panthenol, Alcohol Denat., Camphor, Titanium Dioxide, Sorbitol 70%, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Water
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroquinone
Stabilising
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialEucalyptus Globulus Leaf
Skin ConditioningThymus Vulgaris Extract
Perfuming
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propanediol, Arbutin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroquinone, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicylic Acid, Kojic Acid, Lactic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric 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 AcidDisodium 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 EDTAHydroquinone is a classic ingredient dermatologists use to fade dark spots (things like melasma, acne marks, sun spots, and freckles).
It works in two ways:
1. By blocking an enzyme called tyrosinase; your skin uses this to make melanin, or the pigment that causes dark spots.
2. By interfering with the pigment making cells themselves so less pigment shows up over time
Just know this ingredient fades spots near the surface of skin and not the deeper ones. It's usually used at 2-4% / twice a day for 3 months, and ALWAYS with sunscreen.
This ingredient is usually well tolerated with short-term use under medical guidance. But possible reactions include irritation, contact dermatitis, and lightening of the skin around the spot you're treating.
You might hear hydroquinone called "cancer-causing". That concern comes from studies where rats were fed high oral doses; no skin cancer cases have been linked to it after more than 50 years of people putting it on their skin.
Long-term, high-strength, and unsupervised use can lead to a condition called ochronosis. This is where the skin turns blue-grey color and sometimes causes nails to turn dark as well.
The rules around it vary by country.
The EU bans it in regular cosmetics and it is prescription only in the US, EU, Japan, Canada, and Australia. Anything you see on the shelf without a prescription is technically not allowed.
Check out the European alternative to hydroquinone here.
SkinSort would like to remind friends from around the world that all skin tones are beautiful!
Learn more about HydroquinoneLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic Acid
