What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPolymethyl Methacrylate
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCitral
Perfuming
Citronellyl Methylcrotonate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Hydrochloric Acid
BufferingKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Phosphatidylcholine, Polymethyl Methacrylate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Benzoic Acid, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, CI 15985, Citral, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Hydrochloric Acid, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Linalool, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cholate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Soluble Proteoglycan, Sorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethyl Citrate, Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate, Xanthan Gum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Acetate
BufferingIsopropyl Alcohol
Solvent
Cellulose
Absorbent
Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Sodium Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cellulose
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
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
