This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Panthenol to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
2,3-Butanediol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Glycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Trehalose
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Piper Nigrum Fruit Oil
Masking
Zingiber Officinale Root Oil
Masking
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Ganoderma Lucidum Extract
Skin Protecting
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Squalane
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Tromethamine
BufferingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid, 2,3-Butanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Panthenol, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sorbitol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Allantoin, Madecassoside, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Dextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Piper Nigrum Fruit Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract, Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide NP, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Disodium EDTA, Tromethamine
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG/PPG-8/3 Laurate
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Water, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-8/3 Laurate, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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
