What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No 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
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Morus Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantArctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Bakuchiol, Morus Nigra Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Sclerotium Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidFerulic 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 GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSclerotium Gum is a polysaccharide gum made by the fungus, Sclerotium rolfssii. It is similar to xanthan gum.
In cosmetics, Sclerotium Gum is used to thicken the texture and to help stabilize other ingredients.
As an emulsifier, Sclerotium Gum helps prevent ingredients from separating, such as water and oil.
Learn more about Sclerotium GumSodium 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
