This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This calming moisturizer is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Panthenol to calm redness and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid 13%
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantTromethamine
Buffering3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Sulfite
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Glutathione
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentSqualane
EmollientTocotrienols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientArginine
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingWater, Ascorbic Acid 13%, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Tromethamine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfite, Disodium EDTA, Glutathione, Adenosine, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Dextrin, Squalane, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Arginine, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Centella Asiatica Extract
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningFicus Carica Fruit Extract
HumectantOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPortulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSh-Polypeptide-19
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingSodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
HumectantBetaine
HumectantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Madecassoside
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSea Water
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningSodium Phosphate
BufferingOxygen
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sh-Polypeptide-19, Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Sodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, Allantoin, Sea Water, Ceramide NP, Sodium Phosphate, Oxygen, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene 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 GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAPanthenol 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 the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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