What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Kaolin
Abrasive
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingBentonite
Absorbent
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Coco-Glucoside
CleansingCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantPolyquaternium-7
Lactose
HumectantCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Cellulose
AbsorbentArachidic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingCitrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Oleic Acid
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingHydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningLaurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid, Kaolin, Potassium Hydroxide, Bentonite, Palmitic Acid, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Coco-Glucoside, CI 77492, Polyquaternium-7, Lactose, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Cellulose, Arachidic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Oleic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Caprylyl Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arbutin, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Pentylene Glycol, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phytosterols, Ascorbyl Glucoside
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingDisodium 2-Sulfolaurate
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion Stabilising3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientCucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingGuar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Gluconic Acid
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate, Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Gluconic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Glycolic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citral, Limonene, Parfum
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 AcidAscorbic 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 AcidCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinTocopheryl 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
