What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Japonica Flower Extract
EmollientCitrus Junos Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycolipids
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingMoringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Fullerenes
AntimicrobialEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Octyldodeceth-16, Ferulic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Resveratrol, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Sodium Citrate, Adenosine, Glutathione, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycolipids, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Pvp, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Fullerenes, Ethylhexylglycerin
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Propanediol
Solvent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Diglycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglycerin-3
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Water
Skin ConditioningCalcium Pantothenate
Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tromethamine, Ferulic Acid, Diglycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglycerin-3, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Water, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Maltodextrin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Silica
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
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 AcidAscorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinFerulic Acid is a plant based antioxidant that can be naturally found in the cell walls of grains like rice, oats, and corn. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and has the ability to boost the performance of other antioxidants as well.
A well-known study found that adding Ferulic Acid to a solution of Vitamins C and E doubled the photoprotection of skin. This is why you'll often see it paired with Vitamin C or Vitamin E serums rather than sold on its own.
A 2025 review of 18 human studies found that using Ferulic Acid (0.5-1%) daily for one to three months showed improvements in:
As far as allergies go, Ferulic acid is generally well-tolerated but can cause an allergic reaction in very rare cases. It's also worth noting that Ferulic acid is often extracted from plant sources like rice bran or wheat bran, so be sure to path test if you have known grain allergies.
Outside of skincare, researchers are also looking into Ferulic Acid for its potential benefits in areas like diabetes, Alzheimer's, and heart health.
Learn more about Ferulic 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 GlycerinWater. 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
