What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
PEG-32
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientBis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientDimethiconol
Emollient
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Honey Extract
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Trehalose
Humectant
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantTrideceth-10
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSerine
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment
AntimicrobialAlgin
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sebacic Acid
Buffering10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid
Skin Conditioning1,10-Decanediol
SolventWater, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, PEG-32, Isononyl Isononanoate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethiconol, Alpha-Arbutin, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Honey Extract, Urea, Trehalose, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Trideceth-10, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Serine, Pentylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Sebacic Acid, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, 1,10-Decanediol
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Menthol
Masking
Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether
Skin ConditioningSilicon
Abrasive
Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer
Skin Conditioning
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantPEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Dimethicone
Emollient
Methyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane
Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Paraben
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Parfum
Masking
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Menthol, Alpinia Katsumadai Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Silicon, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Dimethicone, Methyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-12, Sodium Paraben, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Parfum
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 GlycolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 Glycerin
