What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Erythritol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingGlutathione
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tromethamine
BufferingCeramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Aesculus Chinensis Extract
AstringentCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventNonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCyclodextrin
AbsorbentDimethicone
Emollient
Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Phenylethyl Resorcinol
Antioxidant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Caprylyl Methicone, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Erythritol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tranexamic Acid, Panthenol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Glutathione, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Ceramide NP, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Olivate, Tromethamine, Ceramide Ns, Sodium Hyaluronate, Inositol, Ceramide AP, Ceramide As, Aesculus Chinensis Extract, Ceramide EOP, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Nonapeptide-1, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cyclodextrin, Dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20/5 Dimethicone, Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone, Adenosine, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantDiglycerin
Humectant
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEDTA
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Tranexamic Acid, Cetyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dipropylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Metabisulfite, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone 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 DimethiconeLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil is from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant. It is a skin conditioning agent and emollient that sits on top of skin to soften and hydrate it.
Over 98% of the oil is made up of long-chain fatty acids, mostly aachidic acid (61%), docosenoic acid (~16%), and docosadienoic acid (~18%).
This combination is not really found in any other plant oil and is the reason this is one of the most stable botanical oils available.
Some studies show it to be more stable than jojoba oil, helps a product resist going rancid, and can help extend the shelf life of a formula.
It also naturally contains vitamin E and phytosterols that give it a mild antioxidant benefit.
This ingredient is typically used from around 1% to fairly high levels since it's gentle; it's well-tolerated and low on the irritation scale.
Learn more about Limnanthes Alba Seed OilSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolTranexamic 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 Acid
