What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialCetyl Ricinoleate
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRetinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingPyrus Malus Pulp Extract
Skin ConditioningRetinyl Palmitate/Carrot Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPEG-8
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Oleate
CleansingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Silica
Abrasive
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Sorbitol, Glycerin, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Glycolic Acid, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-8, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Oligopeptide-4, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Aleurites Moluccanus Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Pulp Extract, Retinyl Palmitate/Carrot Polypeptide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-8, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Oleate, Glycine Soja Oil, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Silica, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 40800, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Undecane
EmollientBis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Tridecane
Perfuming
Phloretin
Antioxidant
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
Cleansing
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
AstringentCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Undecane, Bis-Hydroxyethoxypropyl Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tridecane, Phloretin, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Ferulic Acid, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Caffeine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
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 AcidDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTASodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
