What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingInonotus Obliquus Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Soy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Olivate
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingLauryl Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Glycolate
BufferingC13-15 Alkane
SolventSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Phytic Acid
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Pentasodium Pentetate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract
Perfuming
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract
RefreshingCoffea Arabica Seed Extract
Masking
Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningFucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Rose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSalvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
CleansingSantalum Album Wood Extract
Perfuming
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Squalane, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Lactic Acid, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide Ng, Superoxide Dismutase, Quercetin, Phospholipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Inonotus Obliquus Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Ferulic Acid, Ubiquinone, Soy Isoflavones, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phytosphingosine, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Propylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Myristyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Lauryl Laurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Glycolate, C13-15 Alkane, Sorbitan Olivate, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pentasodium Pentetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Rose Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Silica
Abrasive
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Phytate
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Mannitol
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Trehalose
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Triacetin
AntimicrobialSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Silica, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Urea, Mannitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trehalose, Ascorbic Acid, Glucose, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Ergothioneine, Triacetin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract is extract from Apples. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, sugars, and antioxidants.
The sugar in Apples are humectants and help hydrate the skin. On top of that, apples also contain some acids, such as malic acid. These acids may have a mild exfoliating effect.
Last, the phytochemicals found in apples are strong antioxidants. These antioxidants help with anti-aging as they protect your skin cells against oxidative damage.
Learn more about Pyrus Malus Fruit ExtractThis is a botanical extract from the rosemary plant (the same one you cook with). In skincare, it mostly works as a skin conditioning agent.
Its activity comes from a handful of polyphenols, carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Almost 90% of the antioxidant activity of this ingredient can be attributed to canosol and carnosic acid.
These compounds protect your skin two ways:
1) They fight off free radicals, or the unstable molecules from things like sun and pollution that age and damage skin.
2) They help calm inflammation by switching off the chemical signals that tell skin to get red and irritated.
Lab studies also suggest that rosmarinic acid may help protect collagen and slow sugar-related damage to it.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has concluded rosemary-derived ingredients to be safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Rosemary can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis (due to carnosol), so be sure to patch test if you have reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium 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 HyaluronateSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATetrahexyldecyl 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 AscorbateWater. 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
