What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantKojic Acid
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyproline
Skin ConditioningTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate
UV AbsorberEpigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropylcellulose
EmulsifyingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantSilica
Abrasive
Astragalus Gummifer Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Propanediol, Ethoxydiglycol, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alpha-Arbutin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Proline, Hydroxyproline, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, CI 19140, Silica, Astragalus Gummifer Gum, Citric Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Isononyl Isononanoate
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract
RefreshingMomordica Charantia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tropolone
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingWater, Butylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Momordica Charantia Fruit Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Tromethamine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinCaprylyl 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 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 GlycerinPanthenol 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 PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
