What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Azelaic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSteareth-100
Gel FormingWater, Isopropyl Palmitate, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Kojic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-100
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Squalane, Bakuchiol, Tranexamic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bisabolol, Glutathione, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Ubiquinone, Allantoin, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Retinal, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Tranexamic 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 AcidWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
