What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Caprylate
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Marrubium Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, Glycerin, Betaine, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lactobacillus, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Sorbitan Caprylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf
Masking
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Sambucus Nigra Flower
Skin ConditioningMomordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Callus Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. Itβs known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineCitric 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 AcidSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTranexamic 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 AcidXanthan 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
