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 ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Jasminum Sambac Flower Water
Perfuming
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emollient
Bellis Perennis Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer
SolventMethylpropanediol
SolventHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Rosa Gallica Flower Oil
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingStearic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mannitol
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Propanediol
Solvent
Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Tagetes Erecta Flower Extract
Perfuming
EDTA
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Glycereth-26, Jasminum Sambac Flower Water, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bellis Perennis Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Glyceryl Glucoside, Rosa Gallica Flower Oil, Propylene Glycol, CI 19140, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stephania Tetrandra Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ergothioneine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hexylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Mannitol, Ceramide NP, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Propanediol, Oligopeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Tagetes Erecta Flower Extract, EDTA, Artemisia Argyi Leaf Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
Reviews
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 GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinMethylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.
As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.
Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.
Learn more about Methylpropanediol
