What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Glycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Isopropyl Myristate
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Erythritol
Humectant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ecklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Methylpropanediol
SolventFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
Masking
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isopropyl Myristate, Betaine, Erythritol, Adenosine, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ecklonia Cava Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Hizikia Fusiforme Extract, Octyldodecanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Methylpropanediol, Ferulic Acid, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Phloretin
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Tetrapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Gold
Cosmetic ColorantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSorbitol
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Diazolidinyl Urea
Preservative
Triethanolamine
BufferingIodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Ethoxydiglycol, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Phloretin, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tetrapeptide-30, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Carnosine, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Glutathione, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Gold, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Triethanolamine, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
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.Â
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 preservativesÂ
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 AcidAscorbic 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 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 GlycolCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.Â
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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 WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
