What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
3-Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropylheptyl Caprylate
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Acetyl Zingerone
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingCellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, 3-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Acetyl Zingerone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hexylresorcinol, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Allantoin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cellulose Gum, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Cetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Diglycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCucumis Sativus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Iron Oxides
CI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantPullulan
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantSilica
Abrasive
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Rice Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningLinseed Acid
CleansingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lactose
HumectantMilk Protein
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Proline
Skin ConditioningSodium Carbonate
BufferingCaprae Lac
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Nephelium Lappaceum Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Diglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, Butylene Glycol, C9-12 Alkane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Phospholipids, Polyglutamic Acid, Iron Oxides, CI 77492, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Pullulan, 2,3-Butanediol, Silica, Arbutin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Tocopherol, Rice Amino Acids, Linseed Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lactose, Milk Protein, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glutathione, Proline, Sodium Carbonate, Caprae Lac, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Cholesterol, Hydrolyzed Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Nephelium Lappaceum Peel Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hexapeptide-9, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-76, Ceramide EOP
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidCoco-Caprylate/Caprate is created from fatty coconut alcohol, caprylic acid, and capric acid.
It is a lightweight emollient. Emollients create a thin barrier on the skin to trap moisture in. This helps keep your skin hydrated and soft.
Once applied, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is absorbed quickly and leaves a silky feel.
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Coco-Caprylate/CaprateGlycerin 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 GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate Citrate is a citric acid ester of glyceryl stearate.
It is an emulsifier, emollient, and a surfactant.
Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating. Common ingredients include oils and water, which do not mix naturally. Emulsifiers have properties that help keep ingredients such as these together.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Surfactants help gather oils, dirt, and other pollutants from the skin. This helps them to be easily rinsed away.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate CitrateHydrogenated Lecithin is created from the hydrogenation of lecithin (a group of phospholipids). Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between hydrogen and another element.
This ingredient is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps soften skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
This ingredient comes from glycerin and stearic acid. It has emulsifying properties.
Due to its stearic acid (which is a fatty acid) base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne, safe.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an emulsifier and helps condition the skin. It is amino acid-based.
In higher amounts, it may act as a cleansing agent.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopherol (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
