What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Potassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingTranexamic Acid
AstringentXylitol
HumectantLauryl Betaine
CleansingRosa Multiflora Fruit Extract
MaskingSilica
AbrasiveSerine
MaskingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialPyrola Incarnata Extract
Skin ConditioningPotentilla Erecta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningGlucosamine Hcl
Glycerin
HumectantArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientIsodecyl Acrylate
Sodium N-Isostearoyl Methyltaurate
CleansingTetradecane
PerfumingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientPetrolatum
EmollientMaltitol
HumectantPEG-100
HumectantHydrogenated Castor Oil
EmollientMyristyl Myristate
EmollientPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
EmollientBeheneth-30
CleansingButylene Glycol
HumectantStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Citric Acid
BufferingBHT
AntioxidantMenthol
MaskingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingAlcohol
AntimicrobialSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePotassium Methoxysalicylate, Tranexamic Acid, Xylitol, Lauryl Betaine, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Silica, Serine, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Pyrola Incarnata Extract, Potentilla Erecta Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Glucosamine Hcl, Glycerin, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Isodecyl Acrylate, Sodium N-Isostearoyl Methyltaurate, Tetradecane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Petrolatum, Maltitol, PEG-100, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Myristyl Myristate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Beheneth-30, Butylene Glycol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, BHT, Menthol, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Alcohol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientMaltitol
HumectantErythritol
HumectantTranexamic Acid
AstringentTrehalose
HumectantXylitol
HumectantPEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Metaphosphate
BufferingSodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate
CleansingSaccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantGarcinia Mangostana Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLysine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningAesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Maltitol, Erythritol, Tranexamic Acid, Trehalose, Xylitol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Potassium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Metaphosphate, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract, Lysine Hcl, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDipropylene 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 GlycerinWe don't have a description for Maltitol yet.
We don't have a description for PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether yet.
Phenoxyethanol 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.
Potassium hydroxide is commonly known as caustic potash. It is used to fix the pH of a product or as a cleaning agent in soap. In cleansers, it is used for the saponification of oils.
Sapnification is the process of creating fatty acid metal salts from triglycerides and a strong base. During this process, Potassium Hydroxide is used up and is not present in the final product.
Using high concentrations of Potassium Hydroxide have shown to irritate the skin.
Learn more about Potassium HydroxideSodium 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 WaterXylitol is a humectant and prebiotic. It can help with dry skin.
In studies, xylitol has been shown to improve dry skin. It decreased transepidermal water loss, or when water passes through the skin and evaporates. Xylitol also showed to help improve the biomechanical properties of the skin barrier.
The prebiotic property of xylitol may also help reinforce our skin's natural microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome prevents infection by bad bacteria and helps with hydration.
As a humectant, Xylitol helps draw moisture from both the air and from deeper skin layers. This helps keep skin hydrated.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol and commonly used as a sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring in plants such as strawberries and pumpkin.
Learn more about Xylitol