What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Erythritol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningLamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tranexamic Acid, Erythritol, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Lamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningTrehalose
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Salvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Thymus Extract
Skin ConditioningPinus Pinaster Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPolyglyceryl-3 Decyltetradecyl Ether
EmulsifyingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Rhododendron Weyrichii Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tranexamic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Yeast Extract, Trehalose, Xylitol, Erythritol, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Thymus Extract, Pinus Pinaster Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Decyltetradecyl Ether, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Metaphosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Rhododendron Weyrichii Extract, Phenoxyethanol
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 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 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 GlycolYou might know this ingredient as a sugar substitute in foods. It is a sugar alcohol with humectant properties.
Humectants attract water to your skin (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid).
Fun fact: Erythritol can be naturally found in some fermented foods.
Learn more about ErythritolGlycerin (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.
Sodium metabisulfite is also known as Sodium Pyrosulfite. It is a preservative, antioxidant, and disinfectant.
As a preservative, it helps stabilize cosmetic formulas without affecting their color or scent.
Tranexamic 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
