What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Tranexamic Acid, Panthenol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Arbutin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventMethyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCorchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Keiskei Extract
Antioxidant
Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water
Antimicrobial
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Octyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin Conditioning
C12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Disodium EDTA
4-Terpineol
Masking
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Ethoxydiglycol, Methylpropanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract, Angelica Keiskei Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodeceth-16, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Glycolipids, Asiatic Acid, C12-13 Alketh-9, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Pvp, Sodium Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, 4-Terpineol, Zinc PCA, 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.
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
Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinMethyl Gluceth-20 is a humectant. Humectants help draw moisture from the air to your skin.
It is created by combining polyethylene glycol with glucose.
Niacinamide 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 NiacinamideTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
