What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Hydroquinone 4%
Stabilising
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract
AstringentC10-16 Alcohols
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Glycerin
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
CleansingSmilax Aristolochiifolia Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Lauryl Sulfate
Cleansing
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Stachys Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Yucca Schidigera Root Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroquinone 4%, Water, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beta-Glucan, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, C10-16 Alcohols, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Chlorphenesin, Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Smilax Aristolochiifolia Root Extract, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Stachys Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Yucca Schidigera Root Extract
Alternatives
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 AcidWater. 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
