What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
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 ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientSalicylic Acid
Masking
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Cetearyl Isononanoate
Emollient
Glycol Distearate
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Bakuchiol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycol Distearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, 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, 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 GlycolDimethyl Isosorbide is a low-irritation solvent that helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from glucose.
Research shows how well this ingredient works depends on the active and formulation rather than the concentration alone. This means adding more Dimethyl Isosorbide does not guarantee better penetration of ingredients into the skin.
Glycerin (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 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 ExtractPhenoxyethanol 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 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 HyaluronateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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
