What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
HumectantSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingGlycosaminoglycans
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeBenzoic Acid
MaskingDehydroacetic Acid
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningSnail Secretion Filtrate
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientPropanediol
SolventDibutyl Adipate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsostearyl Isostearate
EmollientSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDeschampsia Antarctica Leaf Extract
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantZea Mays Starch
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
AbsorbentDimethicone
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysilicone-11
Decyl Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingWater, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propanediol, Dibutyl Adipate, Pentylene Glycol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tocopheryl Acetate, Deschampsia Antarctica Leaf Extract, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Zea Mays Starch, Maltodextrin, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysilicone-11, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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 GlycolParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol 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.
Snail Secretion Filtrate is the excretion from snails. It is an effective moisturizer and promotes collagen production.
A popular nickname for this ingredient is 'Snail Mucin'.
Snail mucin has numerous skin benefits:
On top of this, Snail Secretion Filtrate contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. These include copper peptides, Vitamin A, and vitamin E. Vitamins A and E are antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals that damage skin cells.
Being cruelty-free means a brand does not experiment on animals.
If you're worried about the well-being of the snails, we recommend looking more into the company of the product. Many brands have developed humane methods to collect snail mucin.
There is much debate on this subject. On one hand, this ingredient comes from an animal. On the other hand, many will argue the ingredient is naturally secreted (like a natural by-product) and therefore vegan. If you have reservations, you can look into Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate or Centella Asiatica Extract as alternatives.
Learn more about Snail Secretion FiltrateTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.
Water. 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 Water