What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Glycereth-7 Triacetate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningRetinol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Myristyl Nicotinate
Skin ConditioningTamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningOrobanche Rapum Extract
Skin ProtectingMalus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate
Skin ConditioningHydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Skin ConditioningAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xylitol
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
Solvent
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Rhizobian Gum
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantParfum
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
BHT
Antioxidant
BHA
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Myristyl Nicotinate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Anhydroxylitol, Adenosine, Xylitol, Glucose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Rhizobian Gum, Mica, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, BHA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77491, CI 77891
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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
