What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Propanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycerin, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAmber Powder
Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTropolone
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Alpha-Arbutin, Kojic Acid, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Amber Powder, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Glutathione, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Gluconate, Sclerotium Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tropolone, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric 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 AcidGlycerin 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 GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
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.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractKojic acid comes from fungi and can also be from fermented foods. It helps even out skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation.
This ingredient works by blocking tyrosine, an enzyme that starts the process of skin darkening.
Kojic Acid is antifungal and often used to treat fungal infections. Additionally, it can help fight bacteria with its antimicrobrial properties. This can help treat acne as well.
A similar ingredient is arbutin.
Learn more about Kojic AcidPhenoxyethanol 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.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
