What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Twig Extract
AstringentTremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Dimethyl Sulfone
Solvent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phytic Acid
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Twig Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Betaine, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Dimethyl Sulfone, Tocopherol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Retinol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phytic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Choleth-24
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Methyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Seed Extract
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Phytosterols
Skin Conditioning
Fullerenes
Antimicrobial3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract, Ethoxydiglycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tranexamic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Choleth-24, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Arbutin, Niacinamide, Methyl Gluceth-10, Ethylhexylglycerin, Panthenol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Glycerin, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pvp, Pentylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phytosterols, Fullerenes, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHyaluronic acid is naturally found in healthy skin. It is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture to your skin.
This ingredient helps hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin.
What makes hyaluronic acid so hydrating? It has the capacity to bind or hold large amounts of water.
Fun fact: It is already naturally found in our bodies, such as the fluids of our eyes and our joints.
Studies find this ingredient to have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. This can help speed up wound-healing.
Hyaluronic acid can be irritating if the molecule has a low-molecular weight, or if the molecules are small.
One study found low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid to be pro-inflammatory, meaning some people may experience irritation. This is because our bodies use hyaluronic acid in the wound-healing process to signal to our bodies, via irritation, that something needs healing.
The same study found high-molecular weight hyaluronic acid to be anti-inflammatory.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Hyaluronic AcidSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
