This brightening day moisturizer is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening moisturizer is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Betaine
Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialGlycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Octyldodecyl Xyloside
EmulsifyingPEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantLimonene
Perfuming
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Xylose
HumectantDenatonium Benzoate
Masking
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Niacinamide, Betaine, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol, Limonene, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Xylose, Denatonium Benzoate, CI 14700, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylhexyl Isononanoate
EmollientEthylene/Propylene Copolymer
Abrasive
Glycol Palmitate
Emulsifying
Ethyl Aspartate
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Cyclomethicone
Emollient
Disiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Asparagus Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlucose
Humectant
Isopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Methyl Benzophenone
Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Glycol Palmitate, Ethyl Aspartate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cyclomethicone, Disiloxane, Alcohol, Asparagus Officinalis Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Glucose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl Benzophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 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 Water
