This brightening essence is formulated around Gluconolactone and Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.
This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate 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 ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
MaskingMethylparaben
Preservative
Tetrasodium EDTA
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Methyl Benzoate
Perfuming
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Methylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Ethylparaben, Methyl Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid
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 Phenoxyethanol
