What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Cucumis Sativus Juice
EmollientCoenzyme A
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
PEG-8
HumectantSodium Citrate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Biotin
AntiseborrhoeicSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phosphoric Acid
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Sulfite
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceramide AP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Cucumis Sativus Juice, Coenzyme A, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Saccharide Isomerate, PEG-8, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 20, Biotin, Sodium Benzoate, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Sulfite
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. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
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 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 GlycerinWater. 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
