What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantSqualane
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingWater
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCeteareth-20
CleansingDioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningStellaria Media Extract
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin ConditioningArisaema Amurense Extract
Skin ConditioningGarcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAcmella Oleracea Extract
Skin ProtectingThymus Serpyllum Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiaticoside
AntioxidantAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMelatonin
AntioxidantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassoside
AntioxidantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
AntioxidantGenistein Methyl Ether
HumectantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningPiper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Extract
AntimicrobialPanax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin ConditioningSaururus Chinensis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningGaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract
PerfumingViola Odorata Leaf Extract
MaskingSalvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingHoney Extract
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Water
MaskingHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
EmollientCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingCymbopogon Martini Oil
MaskingPolysilicone-11
Diphenyl Dimethicone
EmollientTriethylhexanoin
MaskingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingTromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientDecyl Glucoside
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningRaffinose
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearic Acid
CleansingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Skin ConditioningLecithin
EmollientLaureth-12
EmulsifyingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningInulin Lauryl Carbamate
Emulsion StabilisingRice Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningDisodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingLinolenic Acid
CleansingGlycolipids
Skin ConditioningJuniperus Virginiana Oil
MaskingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
MaskingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingAniba Rosodora Wood Oil
AstringentMichelia Alba Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil
AstringentZinc PCA
HumectantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantGluconic Acid
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantMenadione
MaskingBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantThiamine Hcl
MaskingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPantothenic Acid
Skin ConditioningFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Geraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCentella Asiatica Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Squalane, Niacinamide, Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Stellaria Media Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Arisaema Amurense Extract, Garcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Thymus Serpyllum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Melatonin, Adenosine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Madecassoside, Alpha-Arbutin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Genistein Methyl Ether, Ferulic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ubiquinone, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Saururus Chinensis Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Viola Odorata Leaf Extract, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Honey Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Polysilicone-11, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Polyquaternium-51, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Decyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Raffinose, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Lecithin, Laureth-12, Beta-Glucan, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Linolenic Acid, Glycolipids, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Michelia Alba Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Zinc PCA, Ascorbic Acid, Gluconic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Riboflavin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Menadione, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Thiamine Hcl, Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 5%
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
MaskingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 5%, Tocopherol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Matrine, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf, Ferulic Acid
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 AcidCentella Asiatica Extract (Centella) is one of the most researched botanical extracts in skincare with decades of studies backing its effects on inflammation, collagen, and the skin barrier.
That research keeps pointing back to the same four triterpenoid saponins: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
These compounds allow centella to dial back inflammation, encourage the skin to build and hold onto collagen, support the barrier and hydration, and bring solid antioxidant activity to protect against signs of aging.
Centella also carries a nice supporting cast of Vitamin A, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and amino acids. Put it all together and you get an ingredient that soothes, hydrates, and protects, all at once.
Most of centella's magic comes from the four big compounds (Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid). These are the actives doing the heavy lifting in almost every centella study.
Here is the short version of what they do in the skin:
So it is not just soothing for the sake of soothing. Centella calms the skin AND helps it rebuild.
Just FYI, not all centella on an ingredient list is the same. What you are getting actually depends on the extract:
Fun fact on the ratios: the leaves tend to be richest in Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, and lower in the two acids. The exact amounts shift with where the plant is grown and how it is processed. This means purity really does vary brand to brand.
Centella is one of the most easygoing actives out there.
It layers well with basically everything: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin C, and also pairs nicely with stronger actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids where it can help take the edge off irritation.
On the safety side, centella and its triterpenes are classified as weak sensitizers, meaning allergic reactions are possible but uncommon.
Patch tests at 1% and 5% came back negative in test panels, and creams at typical use levels did not cause allergic reactions across large groups of people.
But as with any new active, a patch test is still a smart move for very reactive skin.
Centella is widely used because it is effective at low percentages. For context, human safety testing found no meaningful irritation from creams containing centella extract at everyday use levels (the tested amounts were well under 1%).
The irritancy threshold in animal testing was also above 30% (so real-world formulas sit far below anything concerning).
In collagen lab studies, higher concentrations drove more collagen synthesis, so serums built around centella tend to feature it more prominently.
Bottom line: you will find centella working nicely anywhere from a fraction of a percent up to hero-ingredient levels depending on whether it is a supporting soother or the main event.
Fun fact: Centella has been used as a medicine and in food for many centuries. As a medicine, it is used to treat burns, scratches, and wounds.
Learn more about Centella Asiatica ExtractFerulic Acid is a plant based antioxidant that can be naturally found in the cell walls of grains like rice, oats, and corn. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and has the ability to boost the performance of other antioxidants as well.
A well-known study found that adding Ferulic Acid to a solution of Vitamins C and E doubled the photoprotection of skin. This is why you'll often see it paired with Vitamin C or Vitamin E serums rather than sold on its own.
A 2025 review of 18 human studies found that using Ferulic Acid (0.5-1%) daily for one to three months showed improvements in:
As far as allergies go, Ferulic acid is generally well-tolerated but can cause an allergic reaction in very rare cases. It's also worth noting that Ferulic acid is often extracted from plant sources like rice bran or wheat bran, so be sure to path test if you have known grain allergies.
Outside of skincare, researchers are also looking into Ferulic Acid for its potential benefits in areas like diabetes, Alzheimer's, and heart health.
Learn more about Ferulic Acid