This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This pore-care moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate to refine the look of pores and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPoly(2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine-Co-N-Butyl Methacrylate)
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
PPG-17 Butyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventMethicone
Emollient
PPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Hydroxystearate
Emollient
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Methylparaben
Preservative
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
PPG-7 Lauryl Ether
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC16-24 Alkyl C16-24 Acidate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ascorbic Acid, Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Poly(2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine-Co-N-Butyl Methacrylate), Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, PPG-17 Butyl Ether, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Methicone, PPG-8-Ceteth-20, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Hydroxystearate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Methylparaben, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, PPG-7 Lauryl Ether, Xanthan Gum, C16-24 Alkyl C16-24 Acidate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Isododecane
EmollientAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Tromethamine
BufferingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningMethyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
C18-21 Alkane
SolventPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningVigna Radiata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract
HumectantPhaseolus Radiatus Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Pyrus Malus Fruit Water
MaskingPropanediol
Solvent
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxycinnamic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Rutin
Antioxidant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isododecane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, C12-14 Alketh-12, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Tromethamine, Sorbitan Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Coptis Japonica Extract, Allantoin, C18-21 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Vigna Radiata Seed Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Sprout Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Rutin, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 CarbomerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
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.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 Glycerin
