What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientIsododecane
EmollientMicrocrystalline Wax
Emulsion StabilisingSorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Euphorbia Cerifera Wax
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Disteardimonium Hectorite
StabilisingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Propylene Carbonate
SolventEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Citrate
BufferingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid, Cyclopentasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isododecane, Microcrystalline Wax, Sorbitan Olivate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Citrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Carotene, Water, Allantoin, Panthenol, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Beta-Sitosterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Beta-Glucan, Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid 23%
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Tromethamine
Buffering3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentTocopherol
Antioxidant
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 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 EthylhexylglycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
