This brightening moisturizer is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Rosa Damascena Flower Water and Squalane to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientHumulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Skin ProtectingBHT
Antioxidant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Gluconic Acid
Chelating
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Titanium Dioxide, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Spirulina Platensis Extract, BHT, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Gluconic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Glycolic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citronellol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Parfum
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientSqualane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate
Skin Conditioning
Cyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Synthetic Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
PEG-40 Stearate
Emulsifying
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Dimethicone
Emollient
PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate
Emulsifying
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylamide
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Copernicia Cerifera Wax
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
Masking
Ethylhexyl Cocoate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingLaureth-7
EmulsifyingEclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
Emollient
PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract
Skin ConditioningLupinus Albus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningMoringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil
Masking
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glucose
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Serine
Masking
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Leucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Lysine
Skin ConditioningArginine
Masking
Tyrosine
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningHistidine
Humectant
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Methionine
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Squalane, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Synthetic Beeswax, PEG-40 Stearate, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Citrus Reticulata Leaf Oil, Polysorbate 20, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glucose, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.
Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.
In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.
Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.
This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.
This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlyceryl Stearate is made by reacting glycerin with stearic acid (typically sourced from plant oils like palm or coconut). It's an emulsifier, emollient, and mild occlusive.
Emulsifiers help ingredients like oil and water stay mixed so your formula stays nicely blended and uniform in texture.
This ingredient is typically used in concentrations between 1-10%. Studies have found it to be non-sensitizing, non-phototoxic, and non-photoallergenic.
A close cousin of this ingredient is Glyceryl Stearate SE ("self-emulsifying"). This just has a small amount of sodium or potassium stearate added so it can emulsify without a co-emulsifier.
Since this ingredient is an ester of a C18 fatty acid, it may not be fungal acne safe. The Malassezia yeast can potentially metabolize within the C11-C24 range.
Fun fact: The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearatePeg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. On the other hand, emulsifiers help prevent oil and water from separating in a product.
PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
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.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
