What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pullulan
Silica
Abrasive
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentCitric Acid
Buffering
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract
Abrasive
Lecithin
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Extract
Antioxidant
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Pullulan
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Kojic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Biotin, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Pullulan, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Salicylic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum
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 AcidEthylhexylglycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Some other names for this ingredient include soy lecithin and deoiled soy lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Pullulan is a low viscosity polysaccharide (a long chain carbohydrate) with binding and film forming properties when dissolved in water. It is used to create a "silicone-like" or silky feel in cosmetics without adding viscosity.
According to a manufacturer, this ingredient's ability to easily dissolves makes it a great carrier for active ingredients.
Due to it being edible and tasteless, you'll likely find this ingredient in breath freshener strips. This ingredient is produced from the starch of the fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans.
Pullulan is stable over a broad-range of pH.
Learn more about PullulanSclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumSilica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaWater. 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
