Here's our breakdown of the notable ingredients, benefits, and concerns we determined from the ingredients in this product. Click any item to learn more.

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating

Redness Reducing

Skin Texture

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

Ingredients Overview

Here's our quick-to-read summary of the ingredients in this product. Keep scrolling if you'd like to learn more about what each ingredient does!

Ingredient

Com. / Irr. Rating

Features

Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Antioxidant, Buffering, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Emollient

Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

0-3 / 0-3

Skin Conditioning

Antimicrobial

Skin Conditioning

Skin Protecting

Masking

Abrasive, Absorbent

Skin Conditioning, Tonic

Perfuming, Skin Conditioning

Ingredients Explained

This product contains 14 ingredients. Click on any ingredient to learn more about it

Cyclopentasiloxane

What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Disliked

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.

D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.

D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.

Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Cyclopentasiloxane

Ascorbic Acid

What it does: Antioxidant, Buffering, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

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 Acid

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate

What it does: Emollient

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate isn't fungal acne safe.

Polysilicone-11

What it does:

Community Rating: Disliked

We don't have a description for Polysilicone-11.

Tocopherol

What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

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 Tocopherol

Isosorbide Dicaprylate

What it does: Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Isosorbide Dicaprylate.

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

What it does:

Community Rating: Disliked

Polymethylsilsesquioxane is a silicone used as a film forming agent.

When applied to the skin, this ingredient creates an invisible film on the surface. This film still allows oxygen to pass through, but prevents moisture from escaping. This can help condition and hydrate the skin. It also leaves a silky feel when applied.

Polymethylsilsesquioxane has not been shown to clog pores. It has been deemed safe to use up to 55%, but most cosmetics use much less.

If you have concerns about using this ingredient, we recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Hexylresorcinol

What it does: Antimicrobial

Community Rating: Liked

Another popular name for this ingredient is Synovea HR. This ingredient is a skin lightener and antioxidant.

Like other skin lighteners, it blocks the process of skin darkening. Specifically, this ingredient blocks tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for darkening skin when exposed to UV.

Hexylresorcinol works well with other ingredients. Studies show this ingredient boosts the effect of niacinamide, various forms of vitamin C, and retinoids.

Many consider this to be a safer alternative to hydroquinone. In fact, this ingredient produces the same results as hydroquinone in lower amounts.

Fun fact: This ingredient can also be found food and medicine for treating skin infections.

Gentle reminder from SkinSort: all skin tones are beautiful!

Learn more about Hexylresorcinol

Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract

What it does: Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract.

Hordeum Distichon Extract

What it does: Skin Protecting

We don't have a description for Hordeum Distichon Extract.

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil

What it does: Masking

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil comes from the bitter orange, an orange native to Southeast Asia.

This orange is commonly used in cosmetics and food. It is a common ingredient for marmalade.

Citrus peels are often made up of mainly limonene, a fragrance with a citrus scent. They also contain flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.

Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil

Silica

What it does: Abrasive, Absorbent

Community Rating: Disliked

Silica is a mineral naturally found in our skin. It helps to thicken and smooth the texture of a product. It also acts as an agent for other ingredients by increasing the absorption of other ingredients into the skin.

Silica is often used for absorption and can help reduce shine when products are applied. Silica occurs in naturally in materials like clay and sandstone, and it can also be produced synthetically.

Silica is present naturally within the skin during collagen production and when reducing inflammation.

Learn more about Silica

Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Tonic

Community Rating: Loved

We don't have a description for Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract.

Santalum Album Wood Extract

What it does: Perfuming, Skin Conditioning

Santalum Album Wood Extract is a fragrance.

Embed Ingredients

Here's what our community thinks of the 14 ingredients in this product ✨

29% are loved or liked

0% have mixed ratings

36% are disliked or very disliked

36% have no rating yet

When to use

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

Directions

1. After cleanser and toner, apply to face and neck. You might experience a slight tingling sensation.
2. Follow with SPF in the day and moisturizer at night.