What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantStearic Acid
CleansingMyristic Acid
CleansingPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingLauric Acid
CleansingPalmitic Acid
EmollientCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingPotassium Cocoate
EmulsifyingCitrus Tangerina Extract
TonicMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
MaskingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
MaskingOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingQuillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantCoco-Glucoside
CleansingGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPolyquaternium-7
Sodium Chloride
MaskingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningArachidic Acid
CleansingSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCitric Acid
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Oleic Acid
Emollient3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningArbutin
AntioxidantNiacinamide
SmoothingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoate, Citrus Tangerina Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Arachidic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Oleic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Arbutin, Niacinamide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid 23%
AntioxidantPropanediol
SolventDimethicone
EmollientTromethamine
BufferingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSqualane
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Sulfite
PreservativeDisodium EDTA
Glutathione
Adenosine
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningGardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTocotrienols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantElaeis Guineensis Oil
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantArginine
MaskingNiacinamide
SmoothingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
MaskingCamellia Japonica Seed Oil
EmollientDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningWater, Ascorbic Acid 23%, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Panthenol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Caffeine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfite, Disodium EDTA, Glutathione, Adenosine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Dextrin, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Methyl Trimethicone, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene
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 GlycolNiacinamide 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 NiacinamideChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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