What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment
HumectantGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingStyrene/Va Copolymer
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-3 Hydroxypropyl Ethylhexyl Ether
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Paraben
Preservative
Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Soymilk Ferment, Glycine Soja Extract, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Styrene/Va Copolymer, Polyethylene, Polyglyceryl-3 Hydroxypropyl Ethylhexyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Paraben
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Diglycerin
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantPEG-6
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantStyrene/Vp Copolymer
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Hydroxylated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Diglycerin, PEG-8, PEG-6, PEG-32, Styrene/Vp Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxylated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 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 AcidDipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
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.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateDipropylene 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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Water. 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
