What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water
AntioxidantGlycerin
HumectantTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentPunica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate
Skin ConditioningPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Niacinamide
SmoothingDiglucosyl Gallic Acid
Alpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantEllagic Acid
Skin ConditioningTranexamic Acid
AstringentHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientAcetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine
Skin ConditioningTetrapeptide-30
Skin ConditioningOligopeptide-68
BleachingHydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin ConditioningBrassica Rapa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantMaltodextrin
AbsorbentGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydroxyacetophenone
AntioxidantCeramide AP
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Squalane
EmollientHydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientSodium Oleate
CleansingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial4-Butylresorcinol
AntioxidantHydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Water, Glycerin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Cell Culture Lysate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Niacinamide, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Ellagic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Tetrapeptide-30, Oligopeptide-68, Hydroxyphenoxy Propionic Acid, Glutathione, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Brassica Rapa Root Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Squalane, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Sodium Oleate, Ferulic Acid, 4-Butylresorcinol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantButylene Glycol
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialPanthenol
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
MaskingOryza Sativa Bran Extract
Skin ConditioningPropyl Gallate
AntioxidantSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Alpha-Arbutin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Resveratrol, Lecithin, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Propyl Gallate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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 AcidAlpha-Arbutin is made from hydroquinone and glucose. It may also be derived from the fermentation of soybeans.
This ingredient an antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin cells against damage.
Studies show this ingredient helps improve hyperpigmentation and fade discoloration.
Alpha-Arbutin may be used with other ingredients that help with hyperpigmentation. These ingredients include retinol, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid.
Learn more about Alpha-ArbutinButylene 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 GlycolFerulic Acid is a plant based antioxidant. By fighting free-radicals, ferulic acid can help reduce the formation of fine lines and hyperpigmentation.
When used with Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid has shown to prevent Vitamin C from breaking down. In other words, it acts as a stabilizer.
Ferulic Acid is sometimes used to preserve food. Foods containing Ferulic Acid include: oats, rice, eggplant, citrus.
In medicine, Ferulic Acid is being studied for helping with diabetes, Alzheimer's, and cardiovascular diseases.
Learn more about Ferulic AcidGlycerin 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 GlycerinTetrahexyldecyl 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 AscorbateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water