What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Methylpropanediol
SolventTranexamic Acid
Astringent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Water, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Tranexamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Centella Asiatica Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hexanediol
SolventRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Glutathione
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Pantolactone
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Water, Glycol, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Hexanediol, Retinol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glutathione, Bakuchiol, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Arginine, Beta-Glucan, Pantolactone, Glycerin, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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 HyaluronateTranexamic 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
