This brightening essence is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin.
This brightening ampoule is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Betaine
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Trehalose
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xylitol
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Algin
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium Phosphate
BufferingGlyceryl Polyacrylate
Pullulan
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Rubus Chamaemorus Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Saccharide Isomerate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Xylitylglucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Anhydroxylitol, Trehalose, Urea, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Maltodextrin, Xylitol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Adenosine, Pentylene Glycol, Serine, Citric Acid, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Potassium Phosphate, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Tromethamine
Buffering1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate
EmollientMethylpropanediol
SolventHydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentSphingomonas Ferment Extract
Skin Conditioning
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol Cocoate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glucosylrutin
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ethylcellulose
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
ChelatingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Glucosyl Hesperidin
HumectantUbiquinone
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine
HumectantGlyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
C12-16 Alcohols
EmollientCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Aroma
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Tromethamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Hydrogenated Ethylhexyl Olivate, Methylpropanediol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Palmitic Acid, Tocopherol, Glucosylrutin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylcellulose, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Phytate, Beta-Glucan, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Ubiquinone, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Dilauramidoglutamide Lysine, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Isostearyl Alcohol, C12-16 Alcohols, Caffeine, Aroma, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.
The way it works is fairly well mapped out:
Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.
The clinical backing is pretty solid too.
A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.
A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.
On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.
This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.
Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.
Learn more about AdenosineEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinLimonene is the compound that gives citrus peel its smell.
In skincare, it shows up as a standalone fragrance ingredient or as a natural compound of citrus and other essential oils.
You'll typically see this ingredient used in very small amounts; anything above 0.001% in a leave-on product or 0.01% in a rinse-off has to be named on the label in the EU. The citrus oils that carry it sit around 0.5-1% in a finished formula.
Fresh limonene is a weak allergen; the real issue is that it slowly reacts with air and then breaks down from oxidation to create hydroperoxides (which are strong sensitizers). This is why suppliers are required to keep the peroxide value below 20 mmol.
Positive reactions in people being investigated for eczema vary:
It's worth skipping if you have a known fragrance allergy or a compromised barrier, but the risk is low for most people.
Older or long-opened products are also more likely to bother you than fresh ones due to oxidation.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a small, naturally occurring scent molecule found in plants like lavender, coriander, bergamot, and more.
It is one of the two most-used fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and added purely for smell. Since it's not used for a skin benefit, there's no "effective dose". Concentration depends on the fragrance load of the product.
The EU requires it to be named on the label above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Fresh linalool is a weak sensitizer but air exposure turns some of it into hydroperoxides, which are strong sensitizers. Those oxidation products are the actual allergy concern.
Patch-test clinics see positive reactions to linalool hydroperoxides in about 4% to 12% of dermatitis patients depending on country and test concentration.
Resassuringly, one analytical study found hydroperoxide levels in real fragranced products to be orders of magnitude below what induced sensitization in animal studies with no evidence of oxidation building up during normal storage.
The practical takeaway is that linalool is fine for most people but worth avoiding if you have a confirmed fragrance contact allergy or a badly compromised barrier.
Products stored a long time after opening are also the high-risk scenario since that is when oxidation happens.
The scent of linalool is described as floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
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 PropanediolWater. 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
