This calming serum is formulated around Artemisia Vulgaris Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This brightening serum is formulated around Tranexamic Acid and Niacinamide to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Masking
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTromethamine
BufferingSodium Phytate
ChelatingDextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Glucose, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Sodium Phytate, Dextrin, Tocopherol, Dipropylene Glycol, Carbomer
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Isostearate
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Magnesium Sulfate
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glutathione
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Mentha Viridis Extract
MaskingArginine
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantWater, Isopropyl Isostearate, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Triethylhexanoin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Sulfate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Glutathione, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Ascorbic Acid, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Mentha Viridis Extract, Arginine, Allantoin, Dipropylene Glycol
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
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
