What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Ceramide AP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Panthenol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Diisopropyl Sebacate
EmollientC13-16 Isoparaffin
Solvent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Urea
Buffering
Yeast Amino Acids
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Inositol
Humectant
Taurine
BufferingBetaine
Humectant
Glutathione
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantMarrubium Vulgare Extract
Skin ConditioningVerbascum Thapsus Extract
Skin ConditioningZanthoxylum Bungeanum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXymenynic Acid
EmollientTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Isononanoate
EmollientOleyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Triheptanoin
Skin ConditioningPolyisobutene
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Surfactin
CleansingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
EmulsifyingSorbitol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPropanediol
Solvent
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Tin Oxide
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantTea-Sulfate
Buffering
Soy Protein Phthalate
EmollientGlutaral
Preservative
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Formaldehyde
Benzophenone-3
UV Absorber
Petrolatum
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycolic Acid, Dimethicone, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Diisopropyl Sebacate, C13-16 Isoparaffin, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Lactic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ascorbic Acid, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Glutathione, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Gold, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Fruit Extract, Xymenynic Acid, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Hexylresorcinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Oleyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Triheptanoin, Polyisobutene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Silica, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Surfactin, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Decyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Sorbitan Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tin Oxide, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891, Tea-Sulfate, Soy Protein Phthalate, Glutaral, Paraffinum Liquidum, Formaldehyde, Benzophenone-3, Petrolatum
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. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
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 AcidButylene 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 GlycolGlycerin 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 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.
Tocopherol (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
