This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Portulaca Oleracea Extract and Ceramide NP to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ascorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantAlpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingCornus Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPoly(2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine-Co-N-Butyl Methacrylate)
Butylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBiosaccharide Gum-4
Skin ConditioningPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientPPG-17 Butyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingDiethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventMethicone
EmollientPPG-8-Ceteth-20
EmulsifyingPolyacrylamide
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeGlyceryl Hydroxystearate
EmollientC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientPEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingMethylparaben
PreservativeBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientPPG-7 Lauryl Ether
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC16-24 Alkyl C16-24 Acidate
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
MaskingAscorbyl 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
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Oil
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPropanediol
SolventCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
PerfumingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Grandis Seed Extract
AstringentCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAlanine
MaskingArginine
MaskingSodium Glutamate
MaskingSerine
MaskingProline
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientPEG-75 Stearate
SurfactantPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacrylate Starch
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGellan Gum
Tocopherol
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingWater, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Propanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Citrus Grandis Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Alanine, Arginine, Sodium Glutamate, Serine, Proline, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-75 Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Xanthan Gum, Gellan Gum, Tocopherol, Citric Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Behenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholButylene 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 GlycolDipotassium 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 GlycerinXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum