What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch
AbsorbentSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantSodium Lauroyl Aspartate
CleansingOryza Sativa Powder
Diglycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningCalamine
AbsorbentTapioca Starch
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientDimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Oryza Sativa Powder, Diglycerin, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Calamine, Tapioca Starch, Papain, Maltodextrin, Allantoin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Water, Butylene Glycol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingErythritol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glutathione
Disodium EDTA
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Coptis Japonica Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDecyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Erythritol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glutathione, Disodium EDTA, Madecassoside, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Arbutin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Nonapeptide-1
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare.
Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks:
In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen.
The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective.
A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model.
Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums).
Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin.
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl 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 GlycolWater. 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
