What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingMicrocrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantPEG-8
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Echinacea Angustifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Idaeus Leaf Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, C14-22 Alcohols, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Xanthan Gum, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Alcohol Denat., Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Caramel, PEG-8, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Echinacea Angustifolia Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Cell Culture, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Dextran
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
Glycerin
Humectant
Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters
Skin Conditioning
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Skin Protecting
Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ConditioningMarrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture
Skin ProtectingGalactoarabinan
Schizophyllan
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pullulan
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSilica
Abrasive
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Cleansing
Disodium EDTA
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Mica, Glycerin, Safflower Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Galactoarabinan, Schizophyllan, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Pullulan, Hexylene Glycol, Silica, Polyglutamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Glucan, Micrococcus Lysate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Maltodextrin, Tin Oxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Limonene, CI 77891, CI 77491
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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
