What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingTranexamic Acid
AstringentDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantSodium Hydrosulfite
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydrosulfite, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingGalactomyces Ferment Filtrate
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningAlaria Esculenta Extract
Skin ProtectingDimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLactobacillus Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Benzoate
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDMDM Hydantoin
PreservativeSodium PCA
HumectantParfum
MaskingTetrasodium EDTA
Propanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativeAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasivePotassium Sorbate
PreservativeWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alpha-Arbutin, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium PCA, Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidAllantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizingg properties. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Studies show higher concentrations of this ingredient can promote wound healing.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolAccording to a manufacturer, this ingredient is used for skin whitening, freckle removal, and photoprotection.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractPhenoxyethanol 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.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Water. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water