Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Super-C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Super-C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

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

This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Pentylene Glycol

Isopropyl Isostearate

Isopentyldiol

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Citric Acid

Carbomer

Tocopherol

Verbascum Thapsus Extract

Hydroxyacetophenone

Sodium Benzoate

Disodium EDTA

Potassium Sorbate

Achillea Millefolium Extract

Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract

Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract

Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract

Primula Veris Extract

Veronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Parfum

Sodium Metabisulfite

Sorbitan Isostearate

Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract

Papain

Behenyl Alcohol

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Capsanthin/Capsorubin

Stearyl Alcohol

Protease

Subtilisin

Tocopheryl Acetate

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Water, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Pentylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Isopentyldiol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citric Acid, Carbomer, Tocopherol, Verbascum Thapsus Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Veronica Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Parfum, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Papain, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Capsanthin/Capsorubin, Stearyl Alcohol, Protease, Subtilisin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Ascorbic Acid

Dipropylene Glycol

Propanediol

Ethoxydiglycol

Sodium Hydroxide

PPG-26-Buteth-26

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Bisabolol

Ferulic Acid

Sodium Phytate

Decylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Sphingomonas Ferment Extract

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Ascorbic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Decylene Glycol, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

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.

Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.

You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.

Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.

It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.

This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.

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.

In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.

Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.

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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