What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingC12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingBisabolol
MaskingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantGlutathione
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
AstringentLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
MaskingAdenosine
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Peel Oil
MaskingDisodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingMentha Viridis Leaf Oil
AstringentTocopherol
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialBarosma Betulina Leaf Extract
PerfumingN-Butyl Alcohol
PerfumingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningSorbitol
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientHyaluronic Acid
HumectantSucrose Stearate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearates
EmollientBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantThioctic Acid
AntioxidantLycopodium Clavatum Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningUbiquinone
AntioxidantCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantLinoleic Acid
CleansingHesperidin
EmollientErgothioneine
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Hydroxide, C12-14 Alketh-12, Bisabolol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Water, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Glycerin, Glutathione, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Adenosine, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, N-Butyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Sucrose Stearate, Glyceryl Stearates, Beta-Carotene, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Thioctic Acid, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Pyridoxine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Ceramide NP, Ubiquinone, Cyanocobalamin, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Linoleic Acid, Hesperidin, Ergothioneine, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingDimethicone
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientSqualane
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantGluconolactone
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Sulfite
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialDextrin
AbsorbentAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantArginine
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingWater, Ascorbic Acid, Tromethamine, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Squalane, Caffeine, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Glutathione, Pentylene Glycol, Parfum, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Sulfite, Disodium EDTA, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Dextrin, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Tocopherol, Arginine, Niacinamide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Methyl Trimethicone, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about 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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAFerulic Acid is a plant based antioxidant. By fighting free-radicals, ferulic acid can help reduce the formation of fine lines and hyperpigmentation.
When used with Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid has shown to prevent Vitamin C from breaking down. In other words, it acts as a stabilizer.
Ferulic Acid is sometimes used to preserve food. Foods containing Ferulic Acid include: oats, rice, eggplant, citrus.
In medicine, Ferulic Acid is being studied for helping with diabetes, Alzheimer's, and cardiovascular diseases.
Learn more about Ferulic AcidGlutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in our bodies. It is made up of three amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid.
As an antioxidant, it prevents oxidative damage to parts of our cell.
While glutathione is said to help with fading dark spots, the results from research are inconclusive. Further studies are needed. With that said, gluthatione has been shown to protect our skin from UV-B induced damage.
This ingredient is naturally occurring in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria.
Learn more about GlutathioneNiacinamide 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 PanthenolSodium 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 HyaluronateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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 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