What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Xylose
HumectantMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Coptis Japonica Extract
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arginine
Masking
Aminomethyl Propanediol
BufferingTetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propylene Glycol, Azelaic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Xylitylglucoside, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Xylose, Malachite Extract, Coptis Japonica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Beta-Glucan, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Tranexamic Acid, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Olivate
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethiconol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
Emulsifying
Laminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Dextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Phenyl Trimethicone, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Dicaprylyl Ether, Vinyldimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sorbitan Olivate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Betaine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Fructooligosaccharides, Adenosine, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Cholesterol, Butylene Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Mentha Viridis Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Dextrin, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
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
Beta-Glucan is a soluble polysaccharide (a chain of glucose sugars) sourced from the cells walls of oats, baker's yeast, mushrooms, and seaweed.
It's a rare ingredient that pulls double-duty as a heavy-duty hydrator and skin-soothing repair agent.
On the surface, it acts as a humectant that holds water in place and reduces moisture loss for a plumper, smoother feel, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a great pick for calming redness or sensitive skin
The more interesting story is underneath:
Despite its large molecular size, oat beta-glucan has been shown to penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis by slipping between skin cells. Here, it interacts with fibroblasts and macrophages to nudge collagen synthesis and support wound repair.
A small 2005 split-face clinical study of 27 subjects found topical beta-glucan produced measurable reductions in wrinkle depth, height, and roughness after 8 weeks of use.
It is worth noting the trial was small and the penetration testing used frozen, irradiated skin so the anti-aging data is encouraging rather than definitive.
This ingredient gets along with pretty much everything and is typically used around 0.1-1%.
Fungal acne: This ingredient is not a food source for the Malassezia yeast because it is a glucose polysaccharide with no fatty acid or ester component.
Learn more about Beta-GlucanButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid is hyaluronic acid (HA) that is broken down into lower molecular weight fragments.
It's a humectant that pulls and holds water in the skin to help with hydration, plumpness, and reduce transepidermal water loss.
Because hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is smaller in size, it can slip past your outermost layer of skin more easily than full-sized HA.
Most formulations will combine all sizes to get the best of both worlds.
Typical usage levels range from 0.01-1%. Any percentage higher than 2% might become goopy and tacky.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTranexamic 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
