What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydroquinone 12%
StabilisingNiacinamide 2%
SmoothingHydrocortisone 1%
Glycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSodium Bisulfate
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentBis-Vinyldimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCeteth-20
CleansingCetyl Alcohol
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventDisteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientIsopropyl Palmitate
EmollientLaureth-12
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientOzokerite
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-75 Stearate
Petrolatum
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativePropylene Carbonate
SolventSilica
AbrasiveSilica Silylate
EmollientSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
CleansingSorbic Acid
PreservativeSteareth-20
CleansingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantTriethoxycaprylylsilane
Hydroquinone 12%, Niacinamide 2%, Hydrocortisone 1%, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Bisulfate, BHT, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Bis-Vinyldimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Ceteth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dimethicone, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Glyceryl Stearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isododecane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Laureth-12, Lecithin, Ozokerite, PEG-75 Stearate, Petrolatum, Polysilicone-11, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Carbonate, Silica, Silica Silylate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sorbic Acid, Steareth-20, Titanium Dioxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialGlycolic Acid
BufferingButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent4-Ethylresorcinol
AntimicrobialHexapeptide-2
BleachingRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningUrea
BufferingYeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
HumectantInositol
HumectantTaurine
BufferingBetaine
HumectantZinc Gluconate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSodium Sulfite
PreservativeSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-4
Disodium EDTA
Limonene
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Tranexamic Acid, 4-Ethylresorcinol, Hexapeptide-2, Rice Amino Acids, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Zinc Gluconate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-4, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Parfum
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.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about Glycerin