This brightening moisturizer is formulated around Squalane and Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.
This brightening day moisturizer is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Bakuchiol to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Paraffinum Liquidum
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Isododecane
EmollientMyristyl Lactate
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingMyristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3
Skin Conditioning
Propylparaben
Preservative
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Methylparaben
Preservative
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Water, Propylene Glycol, Paraffinum Liquidum, Squalane, Isopropyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Isododecane, Myristyl Lactate, Triethanolamine, Myristyl Alcohol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Seed Oil
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Behenate
EmollientSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Citric Acid
Buffering
BHT
Antioxidant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Isohexadecane
EmollientParfum
Masking
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Sulfate
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Bakuchiol, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Stem Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Behenyl Behenate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Citric Acid, BHT, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Sulfite, Isohexadecane, Parfum, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
