What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Kaolin
Abrasive
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C13-15 Alkane
SolventMyrica Cerifera Fruit Wax
EmollientEthylhexyl Olivate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol Cocoate
Emulsifying
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
C9-12 Alkane
SolventDilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Ethylcellulose
Lecithin
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Ectoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientWater, Butylene Glycol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tranexamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Kaolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isostearyl Alcohol, C13-15 Alkane, Myrica Cerifera Fruit Wax, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Kojic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Allantoin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Squalane, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Triheptanoin, Citric Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Sorbitol, Ethylcellulose, Lecithin, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Ectoin, Phenoxyethanol, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Caprylate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine
Skin Conditioning
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane
Antioxidant
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPullulan
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tranexamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Alpha-Arbutin, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Hexylresorcinol, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin.
The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells.
When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.
Learn more about Acetyl GlucosamineAlpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinBetaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s 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 BetaineCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTranexamic 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 WaterXanthan 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
