erha Truwhite Activator C Serum

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Aqua
2. 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
3. Trehalose
4. Dicaprylyl Carbonate
5. Dipropylene Glycol
6. Sodium Palmitoyl Proline
7. Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract
8. Ethoxydiglycol
9. Glycerin
10. Propanediol
11. Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
12. Xanthan Gum
13. Caprylyl Glycol
14. Glyceryl Caprylate
15. Phenylpropanol
16. Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide
17. Glycolic Acid
18. Lactic Acid
19. Polyvinyl Alcohol
20. Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1
21. Citric Acid
22. Sodium Citrate
23. Bisabolol
24. Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
25. Silica
26. Butylene Glycol
27. Isoceteth-10
28. Ethylhexylglycerin
29. Panthenol
30. BHT
31. Sodium Hyaluronate
32. Disodium EDTA
33. Phenoxyethanol
34. Sodium Metabisulfite

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains PEGContains EU-26 allergensContains fragranceContains silicones

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

SKIN CONDITIONING

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidSodium Palmitoyl ProlineNymphaea Alba Flower Extract

HUMECTANT

TrehaloseEthoxydiglycol

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

FRAGRANCE

Dipropylene Glycol

Other ingredients

GlycerinPropanediolHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerXanthan GumCaprylyl GlycolGlyceryl CaprylatePhenylpropanolPalmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 AmideGlycolic AcidLactic AcidPolyvinyl AlcoholPalmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1Citric AcidSodium CitrateBisabololDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone CrosspolymerSilicaButylene GlycolIsoceteth-10EthylhexylglycerinPanthenolBHTSodium HyaluronateDisodium EDTAPhenoxyethanolSodium Metabisulfite

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Water-soluble Vitamin C derivative; more stable than ascorbic acid, sensitive to metals and alkali.

Trehalose

Trehalose; mild humectant and stabilizer for proteins/actives; hygroscopic, light skin feel.

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Light emollient solvent at 5–15%; mineral oil-free, refreshing feel, low sensitization.

Dipropylene Glycol

Solvent for essential oils; better humectancy than PEG

Sodium Palmitoyl Proline

Amino acid derivative for mild cleansing and conditioning; also acts as humectant.

Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract

Lotus extract, traditional sedative; limited data, use as secondary functional ingredient.

Ethoxydiglycol

Ethoxydiglycol; high-perf solv/humectant; low irrit, EU limit 20%, watch total PEG load

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Propanediol

Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

High-molecular-weight thickener and emulsion stabilizer; requires electrolytes or acid adjustment near isoelectric point for optimal performance.

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Glyceryl Caprylate

Mild emulsifier/deodorant at 0.5-2%; polyol ester, high humectancy, low irritancy, check cationic surfactant compatibility.

Phenylpropanol

Phenylpropanol for fragrance and solvent; allergen risk, requires assessment

Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide

Not decoded yet

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid for exfoliation; requires buffering at concentrations >10%, avoid combination with other acids.

Lactic Acid

AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.

Polyvinyl Alcohol

Film/viscosity agent for masks/cleansers; water-soluble, forms flexible film

Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1

Not decoded yet

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Sodium Citrate

Sodium citrate for buffering and chelating; adjust pH, careful with strong acid reactions.

Bisabolol

Soothing and anti-inflammatory agent, 0.01–0.1%; low irritation, good for sensitive skin.

Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer

Crosslinked silicone thickener at 0.5-2%; silky/matte feel, non-comedogenic, partial oil phase incompatibility, use co-solvent/pre-emulsification.

Silica

Silica powder at 1–10%; absorbs oil, thickens, provides matte finish, for oil-control products

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Isoceteth-10

Not decoded yet

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Panthenol

Panthenol (vitamin B5) at 1–5%; moisturizing and reparative, supports barrier recovery

BHT

Lipophilic antioxidant at 0.01-0.05%; ineffective with acidic systems, label-sensitive, check regulatory limits as preservative alternative.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Disodium EDTA

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Sodium Metabisulfite

Antioxidant/preservative at 0.05–0.2%; irritating for sensitive skin, avoid with oxidizers

Related products in this category

• elmt elmt Gentle Exfoliating Solution
• tommi-skin tommi skin Night Shift Serum
• dr-lewinns DR. LEWINN'S Eternal Youth Day & Night Serum
• clean-beauty Clean Beauty Witch Hazel Smoothing Facial Toner
• skindays Skindays Hyaluronic Acid + B5 Serum
• the-perfect-derma The Perfect Derma Hyaluronic Perfection Serum