What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Morus Alba Root Extract
BleachingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningSargassum Fusiforme Extract
Skin ProtectingSargassum Fulvellum Extract
Skin ConditioningEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin ProtectingArisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract
Skin ConditioningGrifola Frondosa Fruiting Body Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Morus Alba Root Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Sargassum Fusiforme Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, Arisaema Amurense Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Grifola Frondosa Fruiting Body Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Decyl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol
Water
Skin ConditioningNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
Solvent
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Sargassum Fusiforme Extract
Skin ProtectingArisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningGanoderma Lucidum Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Japonica Extract
Skin Protecting
Rumex Occidentalis Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningLentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract
Skin ConditioningSargassum Fulvellum Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingEnteromorpha Compressa Extract
Skin Protecting1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Grifola Frondosa/Arctium Lappa Fruit Extract Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningOctanediol
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningWater, Nonapeptide-1, Tranexamic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Kojic Acid, Sargassum Fusiforme Extract, Arisaema Amurense Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Rumex Occidentalis Extract, Butylene Glycol, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Sargassum Fulvellum Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Enteromorpha Compressa Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Grifola Frondosa/Arctium Lappa Fruit Extract Ferment Filtrate, Octanediol, Tropolone
Reviews
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
Alpha-Arbutin is a brightening active used to fade dark spots, melasma, and post-acne marks. Structurally, it is a hydroquinone with a sugar molecule attached (but is much gentler than raw hydroquinone).
It has a pretty elegant way of working; it slots into tyrosinase, or the key enzyme that your skin uses to make melanin), and competitively blocks it so your skin produces less pigment over time.
There are two forms of arbutin and alpha is the better one to reach for: it works at lower amounts, absorbs into skin more easily, and has a strong safety record.
The science backs this up too: lab and animal studies confirm it lowers melanin by blocking tyosinase and the more you use (up to a point), the more it works.
Human studies look good too.
A 2024 trial found a cream with 5% alpha-arbutin and 2% kojic acid worked about as well as a prescription melasma cream but with fewer side effects. Another study showed 2% alpha-arbutin paired with 10% Trihydroxybenzoic Acid Glucoside and sunscreen faded dark spots and melasma without causing irritation.
Concentration-wise, most serums land in the 1-2% range.
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded that alpha-arbutin is safe in face creams up to 2% and body lotions up to 0.5%.
Overall, this is a well-studied and low-irritation brightener that's a great pick for anyone dealing with uneven skin tone. It also pairs well with vitamin C, niacinamide, and sunscreen.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinWe don't have a description for Arisaema Amurense Extract yet.
We don't have a description for Enteromorpha Compressa Extract yet.
Ethoxydiglycol (aka Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether) is one of the cosmetic world's quiet problem solvers.
In a formula, it is a solvent that dissolves tricky ingredients that don't want to mix in and helps spread ingredients evenly across your skin without leaving a greasy or sticky feeling
This makes it great for hard-to-dissolve actives like vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and self-tanner DHA.
It also has mild humectant and penetration enhancer abilities so it can help some actives absorb a little deeper.
The penetration boost is backed by lab research: studies using human skin samples found it improved how well an active dissolves into the upper layer of skin rather than tearing down your skin barrier. Reviews of its mechanism also describe it interacting gently with the lipids and water in your outermost layer of skin.
Just know this penetration-enhancing effect is not universal. It helps a lot in some formulas and did very little in others (so the benefit really depends on the specific product).
Safety-wise, the evidence is reassuring. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel reviewed it and concluded it's safe for use in cosmetics and recognized it as non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-comedogenic in skincare.
Typical leave-on skincare usage lands around 1-10%. The EU has sets caps of 2.6% in non-spray products, 10% in rinse-offs, 7% in oxidative hair dye, and 5% in non-oxidative hair dye.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolThis ingredient is the stem of the Reishi mushroom.
The Reishi mushroom has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
This is due to its content of terpenoids, polysaccharides, macronutrients, and phenolic acids.
Learn more about Ganoderma Lucidum Stem ExtractLaminaria Japonica Extract comes from a kelp more commonly known as 'sweet kelp'. It is commonly eaten in Japan, Korea, and China.
Sweet kelp is a humectant and helps hydrate your skin. Humectants draw moisture from the air to your skin.
Studies show Laminaria Japonica has antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants may help with anti-aging. Kelp also contains magnesium and zinc, making it great for calming inflammation and redness.
Learn more about Laminaria Japonica ExtractWe don't have a description for Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract yet.
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
This ingredient is also known as Sepimax Zen.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWe don't have a description for Sargassum Fulvellum Extract yet.
We don't have a description for Sargassum Fusiforme Extract yet.
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract comes from a kelp native to the northern Pacific Ocean. It is more commonly known as "wakame".
This kelp contains fatty acids, sodium, calcium, iodine, thiamine, and niacin. Studies show a polysaccharide known as fucoidan exhibits strong antioxidant activities. Fucoidan can be found in the cell walls of many species of brown seaweed.
Wakame prefers cold and temperate oceans. It is used in Japanese and Korean cuisine (yummy!).
Learn more about Undaria Pinnatifida ExtractWater. 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
