This brightening serum is formulated around 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.
This brightening ampoule is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningBis-PEG-12 Dimethicone
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Allantoin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingWater, Glycerin, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientBetaine
HumectantErythritol
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningEcklonia Cava Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingGelidium Cartilagineum Extract
Skin ProtectingHizikia Fusiforme Extract
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Methylpropanediol
SolventFerulic Acid
AntimicrobialOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
MaskingMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantWater, 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
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 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. 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