This brightening serum is formulated around Bifida Ferment Filtrate and Niacinamide to brighten dull-looking skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This barrier-repair toner is formulated around Panthenol and Madecassoside to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Bifida Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingSqualane
EmollientPEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin
HumectantPolyglycerin-10
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningEctoin
Skin ConditioningTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBenzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberSodium DNA
Skin ConditioningThermus Thermophillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPhragmites Communis Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Silk Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientHydroxyethyl Chitosan
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHexapeptide-2
Bleaching1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantSodium Chloride
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingAroma
Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Squalane, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Polyglycerin-10, Panthenol, Ectoin, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Sodium DNA, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Phragmites Communis Extract, Zea Mays Silk Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethyl Chitosan, Pentylene Glycol, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hexapeptide-2, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Chloride, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aroma
Oryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningTriethylhexanoin
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningStreptococcus Thermophilus Ferment
HumectantPyrus Malus Juice
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTrilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingCynanchum Atratum Extract
Skin ConditioningAlthaea Rosea Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
AbsorbentSea Salt
AbrasiveAspergillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Citric Acid
BufferingMadecassoside
AntioxidantHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingBifida Ferment Extract
HumectantHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSilanetriol
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningRice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Triethylhexanoin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Tocopherol, Water, Butylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Pyrus Malus Juice, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Polyquaternium-51, Betaine, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Sea Salt, Aspergillus Ferment, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Madecassoside, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Bifida Ferment Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Silanetriol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Rice Amino Acids
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
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 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 GlycerinThis ingredient is made when the Lactobacillus bacteria (the same kind that makes yogurt and kimchi) are allowed to ferment a nutrient medium.
As it ferments, it collects lactic acid, peptides, enzymes, and other bioactive metabolites to provide:
A 2023 review noted that probiotic fermentation ingredients like this one can enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce UV-induced oxidative damage, and support barrier function.
One clinical study from the same year showed a Lactobacillus ferment lysate significantly reduced transepidermal water loss and improved skin hydration.
Another review highlighted that topical Lactobacillus-based preparations can improve ceramide levels in the stratum corneum, support barrier integrity, and even help reduce S. aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis.
Why is this so cool?
Basically, your skin's outer layer works as a brick wall; skin cells are bricks and ceramides are the mortar holding it together. Moisture escapes, irritants get in, and your skin gets dry and reactive when ceramide levels drop. On top of that, "bad" skin bacteria S. aureus loves to move in when your barrier is weak to make inflammation and irritation worse.
So Lactobacillus ferment is basically patching the wall and evicting the troublemaker when it boosts ceramide production and help keep S. aureus in check.
On top of all this, it also acts as a mild antimicrobial preservative booster.
Just so you know, most studies focus on specific strains or the lysate form rather than this generic "Lactobacillus Ferment", so results can vary.
Though it's a promising ingredient, it doesn't have decades of robust clinical data behind it just yet.
Lactobacillus Ferment is generally considered safe for fungal-acne prone skin. The key thing to understand is that it comes from bacteria, not yeast or fungus.
Yeast-derived ferments (like galactomyces) have been shown to activate a protein that's linked to Malassezia-related skin issues whereas lactobacillus doesn't have that problem.
Its byproducts also don't contain the types of fatty acids (C11-24 chain lengths) that Malassezia feeds on.
Learn more about Lactobacillus FermentOryza Sativa Extract comes from the rice grain, Oryza sativa. Rice extract has wound healing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating properties.
Rice grains contain numerous antioxidants which may help with anti-aging, such as vitamin E. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radical molecules. Unstable free-radical molecules may damage your skin cells and accelerate signs of aging.
A study from 2002 found rice to help increase the rate of wound healing. The same study found an improvement of skin barrier function in the patients after taking rice baths.
Numerous in-vitro studies have found rice water to help decrease sun damage by increasing collagen production and inhibiting the process of tyrosinase.
Long story short- tyrosinase is an enzyme that controls melanin production. Our bodies start producing melanin (AKA tanning) when exposed to UV radiation to protect against damage. Rice water is found to partially block this process.
Though more research is needed on rice's ability to help with UV protection, recent studies seem promising.
Wondering why rice is hydrating? The protein in rice have emollient properties. Emollients create a barrier on the skin to trap moisture in, keeping your skin moisturized.
Some rice extract may have mildly-exfoliating properties. These are mainly limited to Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran and Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Powder.
This rice was first cultivated in China over 10,000 years ago. Many cultures throughout Asia have used rice water on skin and hair for centuries.
Learn more about Oryza Sativa ExtractPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolWater. 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