What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingChondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Saccharomyces Ferment, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Bakuchiol, Caffeine, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Lauroyl Lysine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mica, Tocopherol, CI 77891, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSaccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Tetrasodium EDTA
C12-15 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningSilanetriol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Siloxanetriol Alginate
Skin ConditioningCitrus Unshiu Peel Extract
MaskingPalmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Pantolactone
Humectant
Nigella Sativa Seed Extract
Perfuming
Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Hizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Fraxinus Excelsior Bark Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Tetrasodium EDTA, C12-15 Pareth-12, Caffeine, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Silanetriol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Siloxanetriol Alginate, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Benzoate, Pantolactone, Nigella Sativa Seed Extract, Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Sorbic Acid, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract
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 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 GlycolCaffeine is most associated with coffee, tea, and cacao. In skincare, it helps with calming inflammation and is rich in antioxidants.
While caffeine is used to treat cellulite and and dark circles, further studies are needed to prove this. It has been believed to help with these skin conditions due to its ability to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Some studies are looking into caffeine's ability to protect against UV rays.
Learn more about CaffeineCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric 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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
