What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
C15-19 Alkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Hydroxystearic Acid
Cleansing
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Gellan Gum
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Phytate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Water, Niacinamide, C15-19 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Hydroxystearic Acid, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed, Gellan Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Isopentyldiol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Isononyl Isononanoate
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer
Dextrin
AbsorbentXanthan Gum
Emulsifying3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningCastor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Canola Oil
Emollient
Cyclodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Phytate
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Protease
Exfoliating
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDaucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAscorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Amodimethicone
Glucose
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Chondrus Crispus Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicFolic Acid
Skin ConditioningRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantPyridoxine
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingWater, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, Squalane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Trehalose, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Acrylic Acid/Ma Copolymer, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Canola Oil, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Protease, Caprylyl Glycol, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Carbomer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beta-Carotene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Amodimethicone, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glutathione, Ferulic Acid, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Cyanocobalamin, Gluconolactone, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Thiamine Hcl
Reviews
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 AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateSodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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. Remember to 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
