This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Acetyl Glucosamine to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Alpha-Arbutin 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
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Phytate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Methylpropanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ferulic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Honey
Humectant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tetrasodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Honey, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tephrosia Purpurea Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 Acid
