What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglycerin-3
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Diglycerin
Humectant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSchisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Geranium Thunbergii Extract
Skin ConditioningSilybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tromethamine
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Propanediol, Ascorbic Acid, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Diglycerin, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Geranium Thunbergii Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Citrate
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract
Antioxidant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Limonene
Perfuming
CI 75120
Cosmetic ColorantWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Methyl Gluceth-20, Propanediol, Sodium Citrate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Polysorbate 20, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, CI 75120
Reviews
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 AcidCaprylyl 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, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (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 PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
