Tree of Life Hyaluronic Acid Serum with Vitamin C | Hydrate + Plump Versus Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Serum

Tree of Life Hyaluronic Acid Serum with Vitamin C | Hydrate + Plump Versus Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Serum

This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide

Glycerin

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Dimethyl Sulfone

Tocopheryl Acetate

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Pelargonium Graveolens Oil

Camellia Sinensis Extract

Centella Asiatica Extract

Equisetum Arvense Extract

Taraxacum Officinale Extract

Geranium Maculatum Extract

Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose

Carrageenan

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dimethyl Sulfone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Carrageenan, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Dextrin

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Citrus Aurantifolia Oil

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Theobroma Cacao Extract

Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract

Betaine

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Citrus Limon Peel Oil

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Sodium Chloride

Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract

Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

Camellia Japonica Flower Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water

Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract

Coptis Japonica Root Extract

Butylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Pearl Powder

Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract

Disodium EDTA

Dipropylene Glycol

Sodium Palmitoyl Proline

Water, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dextrin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Glycerin, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Betaine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Chloride, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pearl Powder, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Ethylhexylglycerin 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.

Glycerin (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.

Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.

Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.

It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.

One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.

Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.

Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.

The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.

Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.

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. Remember to stay hydrated!

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