What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
EmulsifyingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Pullulan
Sorbitol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
CI 77480
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
Buffering
Glutathione
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Bisabolol, Ferulic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Sorbitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Scenedesmus Rubescens Extract, Ascorbic Acid, CI 77480, Citric Acid, Glutathione
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Illicium Verum Fruit Extract
Perfuming
Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingBrassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract
Perfuming
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Asarum Sieboldii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningQuercus Mongolica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPersicaria Hydropiper Extract
Skin ConditioningLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantMagnolia Obovata Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningRheum Palmatum Root Extract
Astringent
Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCoptis Chinensis Root Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Phosphate
BufferingLysine Hcl
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Acetyl Methionine
Skin Conditioning
Theanine
EmollientProline
Skin Conditioning
Lecithin
Emollient
Acetyl Glutamine
Skin ConditioningBacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Propylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polysorbate 60, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Disodium EDTA, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Camellia Sinensis Callus Culture Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium Phosphate, Sorbitan Oleate, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Asarum Sieboldii Root Extract, Quercus Mongolica Leaf Extract, Persicaria Hydropiper Extract, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Magnolia Obovata Bark Extract, Rheum Palmatum Root Extract, Corydalis Turtschaninovii Root Extract, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Lysine Hcl, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Acetyl Methionine, Theanine, Proline, Lecithin, Acetyl Glutamine, Bacillus/Folic Acid/Soybean Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Caprylyl Glycol, Limonene
Reviews
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
Ascorbic 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 AcidCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids.
Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker:
It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that causes fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinSodium 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
