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Geek & Gorgeous C-Glow 15% Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask

Geek & Gorgeous C-Glow 15% Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. This brightening overnight mask is

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Geek & Gorgeous C-Glow 15% Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask

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

This brightening overnight mask is formulated around Niacinamide and Arbutin to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Ascorbic Acid

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Butylene Glycol

PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin

Ferulic Acid

Tocopherol

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Sodium Hydroxide

Water, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Ferulic Acid, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide

Glycerin

Dimethicone

Niacinamide

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Carrageenan

Arbutin

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract

Allantoin

Isohexadecane

Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil

Salix Alba Bark Extract

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Polysorbate 60

Citric Acid

Xanthan Gum

Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carrageenan, Arbutin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Isohexadecane, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

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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.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

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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The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

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Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Explained

  1. 01These ingredients are found in both products.
  2. 02Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
  3. 03Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
  4. 04Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
  5. 05Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
  6. 06Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
  7. 07Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
  8. 08Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
  9. 09Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
  10. 10This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
  11. 11On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
  12. 12One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too st…
  13. 13Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
  14. 14You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
  15. 15Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  16. 16Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  17. 17Your 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.
  18. 18Aquaporin-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.
  19. 19This 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.
  20. 20Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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