What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Betaine
Humectant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Bud Extract
HumectantPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Glycerin
Humectant
Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Betaine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Bud Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate
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 AcidFerulic Acid is a plant based antioxidant that can be naturally found in the cell walls of grains like rice, oats, and corn. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and has the ability to boost the performance of other antioxidants as well.
A well-known study found that adding Ferulic Acid to a solution of Vitamins C and E doubled the photoprotection of skin. This is why you'll often see it paired with Vitamin C or Vitamin E serums rather than sold on its own.
A 2025 review of 18 human studies found that using Ferulic Acid (0.5-1%) daily for one to three months showed improvements in:
As far as allergies go, Ferulic acid is generally well-tolerated but can cause an allergic reaction in very rare cases. It's also worth noting that Ferulic acid is often extracted from plant sources like rice bran or wheat bran, so be sure to path test if you have known grain allergies.
Outside of skincare, researchers are also looking into Ferulic Acid for its potential benefits in areas like diabetes, Alzheimer's, and heart health.
Learn more about Ferulic 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
