This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
This smoothing exfoliator is formulated around Papain and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventLactic Acid
Buffering
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pullulan
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Water, Methylpropanediol, Lactic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycolic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Mandelic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicylic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Pullulan, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sclerotium Gum, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Lecithin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Dimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch
AbsorbentSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantSodium Lauroyl Aspartate
CleansingOryza Sativa Powder
Diglycerin
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningCalamine
AbsorbentTapioca Starch
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlchemilla Vulgaris Extract
AstringentActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientDimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Oryza Sativa Powder, Diglycerin, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Calamine, Tapioca Starch, Papain, Maltodextrin, Allantoin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Water, Butylene Glycol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare.
Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks:
In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen.
The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective.
A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model.
Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums).
Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin.
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidWater. 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
