Votary Meta Active Complex 3-9-12 Night Star Serum Versus Carbon Theory Facial Purifying Tonic
Updated on December 14, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Votary Meta Active Complex 3-9-12 Night Star Serum 58 ingredients
Carbon Theory Facial Purifying Tonic 23 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Votary Meta Active Complex 3-9-12 Night Star Serum 58 ingredients
Carbon Theory Facial Purifying Tonic 23 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningVitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingGlycerin
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Extract
Skin ProtectingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Propanediol
SolventSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSqualane
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Triticum Vulgare/Aestivum Grain Extract
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientLactic Acid
Buffering
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningNarcissus Poeticus Callus Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Extract
Emulsion StabilisingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Cinnamomum Camphora Linalooliferum Wood Oil
Perfuming
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Michelia Champaca Flower Oil
Skin Conditioning
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Perfuming
Michelia Alba Leaf Oil
Masking
Ocimum Basilicum Oil
Masking
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
Emollient
Santalum Spicatum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCalcium Gluconate
HumectantDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Extract, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Propanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare/Aestivum Grain Extract, Arachidyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Bisabolol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Narcissus Poeticus Callus Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Arachidyl Glucoside, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Bakuchiol, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrolyzed Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Extract, Ceramide NP, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Cinnamomum Camphora Linalooliferum Wood Oil, Gluconolactone, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Michelia Champaca Flower Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Michelia Alba Leaf Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Santalum Spicatum Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Dunaliella Salina Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Lactate
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHeptyl Glucoside
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Spiraea Ulmaria Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Fruit Oil
Astringent
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Heptyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citric Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acer Saccharum Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Limonene
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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 WaterGlycerin 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.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolLactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidIngredient Ratings
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