This brightening serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Phenylethyl Resorcinol to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Oleate Citrate
Emulsifying
Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Morus Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantArctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAcacia Senegal Gum
MaskingLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingPhenethyl Alcohol
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Bakuchiol, Morus Nigra Leaf Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Sclerotium Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide
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 AcidPropanediol 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 Propanediol
