This brightening toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This pore-care serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract to refine the look of pores.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Methylpropanediol
SolventNiacinamide
Smoothing
Erythritol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate
Emulsifying
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Gellan Gum
Parfum
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide
MaskingCarthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Cymbopogon Citratus Extract
Skin ConditioningEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Mentha Arvensis Extract
MaskingDextrin
AbsorbentGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningZea Mays Kernel Extract
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Fructan
Skin ConditioningGlucose
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Bioflavonoids
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningAluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate
Emulsion StabilisingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentApium Graveolens Extract
Skin ConditioningLysolecithin
EmulsifyingMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Campestris Sterols
EmollientMalachite Extract
Antioxidant
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingDimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Chitosan
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantTris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate
StabilisingSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Methylpropanediol, Niacinamide, Erythritol, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Glycereth-26, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gellan Gum, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Glycerin, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Citratus Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Dextrin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Punica Granatum Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Fructan, Glucose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caffeine, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Squalane, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Bioflavonoids, Polyglutamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide Stearate, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Apium Graveolens Extract, Lysolecithin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Phosphatidylcholine, Polysorbate 80, Stearic Acid, Retinol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Malachite Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Chitosan, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol)Citrate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Pentapeptide-3, Tripeptide-1
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
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare.
Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks:
In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen.
The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective.
A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model.
Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums).
Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin.
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePanthenol 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 PanthenolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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
