What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLactic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-51
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-100 Stearate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Propanediol
Solvent
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingSqualane
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Dimethicone, Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglutamic Acid, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lactic Acid, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Oligopeptide-51, Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1, Panthenol, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Water, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningIsodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxystearyl Glucoside
Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract
Skin ProtectingSorbitol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract
Antioxidant
Salvia Officinalis Extract
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Hydroxystearyl Alcohol
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Sodium Phytate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Tropaeolum Majus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxystearyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract, Sorbitol, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Hydroxystearyl Alcohol, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil is an essential oil that is derived from the peel of a Grapefruit. It is composed largely of limonene, which is a fragrance that can cause irritation for sensitive skin.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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.
Tetrahexyldecyl 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
