What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeLecithin
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPEG-4 Laurate
EmulsifyingPEG-4 Dilaurate
EmulsifyingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
PreservativePEG-8
HumectantTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingCitral
PerfumingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Glycerin, Sodium Gluconate, PEG-4 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, PEG-8, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Citral
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingGlycerin
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialCitric Acid
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingCetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
AntioxidantCucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ferulic Acid, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Gluconate, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Arbutin, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Ceramide AP, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Extract
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 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Propanediol 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 PropanediolThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconateTerminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract is from the Kakadu plum. The Kakadu plum is native to northern Australia. The Kakadu plum holds the record for having the highest amount of natural vitamin C.
This ingredient is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals and thus may reduce the signs of aging.
The high vitamin C content of Kakadu plum also helps lighten skin. Vitamin C has been shown to block the process of skin darkening that leads to hyperpigmentation.
Kakadu plums have been used by indigenous cultures as medicine to help treat colds and as an antiseptic.
Learn more about Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit ExtractTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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