What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Mannitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingTropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Waltheria Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium Phosphate
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingWater, Isopentyldiol, Tranexamic Acid, Mannitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Sorbitan Caprylate, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Dextrin, Ferulic Acid, Waltheria Indica Leaf Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Tromethamine
BufferingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Polyisobutene
Disodium EDTA
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
CleansingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Farnesol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Methicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbomer, Parfum, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tranexamic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyisobutene, Disodium EDTA, Myristic Acid, Madecassoside, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citronellol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Linalool
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.
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 preservatives
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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
