This hydrating serum is formulated around Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
This brightening serum is formulated around Mandelic Acid and Niacinamide to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialHydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPolysilicone-11
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Sodium Hyaluronate
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
ExfoliatingOctyldodecanol
EmollientBis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone
EmollientPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDextrin
AbsorbentOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentDisodium EDTA
ChelatingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitrus Nobilis Peel Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingT-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingCellulose Acetate Butyrate
Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Sodium Chloride
MaskingButylene Glycol
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantWater, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Propylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polysilicone-11, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Dextrin, Oryza Sativa Extract, Disodium EDTA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Limonene, T-Butyl Alcohol, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Water
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
AntimicrobialDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventNiacinamide
SmoothingPropanediol
SolventAcetyl Zingerone
AntioxidantHydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydroxyresveratrol
BleachingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
ChelatingCaprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingGlycerin
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Oil
MaskingCananga Odorata Flower Oil
MaskingPogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil
PerfumingEucalyptus Radiata Leaf/Stem Oil
MaskingFusanus Spicatus Wood Oil
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Mandelic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Acetyl Zingerone, Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyresveratrol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Radiata Leaf/Stem Oil, Fusanus Spicatus Wood Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneSodium 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 HydroxideWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum