This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Bakuchiol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Propanediol
Solvent
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Acetamidoethoxyethanol
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sucrose Cocoate
Emulsifying
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
Humectant
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Tricaprylin
Perfuming
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Pistacia Lentiscus Gum
MaskingLecithin
Emollient
Silica Silylate
Emollient
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Magnesium Stearate
Cosmetic ColorantGlyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Niacinamide, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Propanediol, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Phenoxyethanol, Sucrose Cocoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Betaine, Xylitylglucoside, Bakuchiol, Tricaprylin, Anhydroxylitol, Retinol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Xylitol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polysorbate 60, Pentylene Glycol, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Lecithin, Silica Silylate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Silica, Centella Asiatica Extract, Magnesium Stearate, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
Emulsifying
Kojic Acid
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-12 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Beta-Sitosterol
Emulsion Stabilising
Squalene
Emollient
Water, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Bicarbonate, Tranexamic Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Kojic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene
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 GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidEthylhexylglycerin 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 EthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. 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
