This acne serum is formulated around Mandelic Acid and Zinc PCA to clear breakouts and soften the look of wrinkles.
This calming serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Panthenol to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialPropylene Glycol
HumectantSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingCopper PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
HumectantGanoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin ProtectingCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPolylysine
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Parfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Mandelic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Copper PCA, Zinc PCA, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polylysine, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantTetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAcetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-2
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract
AntioxidantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
BufferingLecithin
EmollientC12-13 Pareth-9
EmulsifyingMenthyl Lactate
MaskingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Acetyl Glutamine, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Bacillus/Folic Acid Ferment Filtrate Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Lactic Acid, Lecithin, C12-13 Pareth-9, Menthyl Lactate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum
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
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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDipotassium 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 GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPropylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted effects and reactions from a product. These metal ions may come from water and are found in miniscule amounts.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate can also help other preservatives be more effective.
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