This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around Alpha-Arbutin and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 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
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water
Masking
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
C12-13 Alketh-9
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDextrin
AbsorbentVitis Vinifera Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningMentha Viridis Extract
MaskingHippophae Rhamnoides Extract
MaskingParfum
Masking
Hippophae Rhamnoides Water, Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, C12-13 Alketh-9, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Panthenol, Arbutin, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Vitis Vinifera Vine Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Kojic Dipalmitate
Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMeteorite Extract
Skin ProtectingResveratrol
Antioxidant
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Saussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Lauryl Glucoside
CleansingMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Alpha-Arbutin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Kojic Dipalmitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Meteorite Extract, Resveratrol, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lauryl Glucoside, Myristyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Tetrasodium EDTA, 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.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare.
Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks:
In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen.
The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective.
A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model.
Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums).
Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin.
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidButylene 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 GlycolWater. 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
