What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Arbutin
AntioxidantStearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientDiglycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol Butyl Ether
HumectantMilk Ferment
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate
AntioxidantAcrylic Acid
Alcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialPolyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer
Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonic Acid
Stearic Acid
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientTrimethylpyrazine
PerfumingMethyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane
Glycol Stearate
EmollientPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantGlyceryl Isostearate
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Jojoba Oil
AbrasivePhenoxyethanol
PreservativeSodium Paraben
PreservativeArbutin, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, Diglycerin, Propylene Glycol Butyl Ether, Milk Ferment, Glycine Soja Extract, Potassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate, Acrylic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Polyvinylalcohol Crosspolymer, Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonic Acid, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Trimethylpyrazine, Methyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane, Glycol Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Isostearate, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Paraben
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningPotassium Cocoyl Glycinate
Butylene Glycol
HumectantSorbitol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDisodium Cocoamphodiacetate
CleansingGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientGlycine Soja Extract
Skin ConditioningMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Alcohol
AntimicrobialSodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Water, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Glycine Soja Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol, Sodium Lauroyl Methylaminopropionate, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Alternatives
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 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 GlycerinThis ingredient comes from the wild soybean. It has skin conditioning and moisturizing properties due to its interesting bioactive compounds.
The two key bioactive compounds like genistein, daidzein, soybean trypsin inhibitor, Bowman-Birk inhibitor, and phenolic acids give it a broad range of studied effects.
Studies have shown soy proteins can inhibit melanin transfer to the skin's surface to potentially help with uneven skin tone. There's also some in-vitro evidence that soybean extract stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis. A 2025 mouse study found Glycine Soja leaf/stem extract reduced markers of atopic dermatitis-like inflammation and improved skin barrier function.
Just remember this ingredient still lacks robust human clinical trials. However, it would be a great supportive ingredient in any routine unless you have a known soy allergy.
Learn more about Glycine Soja ExtractMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is used in skincare because it tends to be more formulation friendly than pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
According to research, MAP has three major benefits:
While MAP is gentler on the skin than ascorbic acid, it is thought to be less easily absorbed into the skin.
In a well-known absorption study, pure vitamin C increased skin vitamin C levels when formulated correctly, but derivatives like MAP did not in that experiment. This suggests MAP may not always convert into active vitamin C in the skin.
Due to MAP's stability up to a pH level of 7, it is more stable to air and sunlight exposure than ascorbic acid. The best pH range for MAP is between 5 and 6.
Learn more about Magnesium Ascorbyl PhosphatePhenoxyethanol 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