This brightening eye moisturizer is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Troxerutin to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
C13-15 Alkane
SolventWater
Skin ConditioningCocoglycerides
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentPolyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Troxerutin
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHaematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantMalic Acid
Buffering
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Astaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Propylene Carbonate
SolventStearalkonium Hectorite
Gel FormingPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantC13-15 Alkane, Water, Cocoglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Cetearyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Troxerutin, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Diisostearyl Malate, Gluconolactone, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Maltodextrin, Cistus Incanus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Octyldodecanol, Calcium Gluconate, Malic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Tocopherol, Astaxanthin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Carbonate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Octadecenedioic Acid
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ceteareth-12
EmulsifyingCeteareth-20
CleansingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Olive Glycerides
Emulsifying
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Triethanolamine
BufferingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Phytic Acid
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Acetyl Hexapeptide-49
Skin Conditioning
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Niacinamide, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Octadecenedioic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Olive Glycerides, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Ceramide NP, Ethylhexylglycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate, Bakuchiol, Ferulic Acid, Ubiquinone, Phytic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Caprylyl Glycol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-49
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene 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 GlycolCaprylic/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 TriglycerideTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateTocopheryl 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
