Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

No7 Radiance+ 15% Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

No7 Radiance+ 15% Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Ac

No7 Radiance+ 15% Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

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

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Propylene Glycol

Polysorbate 20

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Ethylhexylglycerin

Sodium Hyaluronate

Benzyl Alcohol

Allantoin

Xanthan Gum

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Sodium Citrate

Limonene

Dipropylene Glycol

Linalool

T-Butyl Alcohol

Parfum

Citric Acid

Denatonium Benzoate

Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Citrate, Limonene, Dipropylene Glycol, Linalool, T-Butyl Alcohol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Denatonium Benzoate

Ascorbic Acid

Propanediol

Glycerin

Ethoxydiglycol

Sodium Hydroxide

PPG-26-Buteth-26

Bisabolol

Ferulic Acid

Sodium Phytate

Decylene Glycol

Tocopherol

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

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.

Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.

This ingredient helps:

Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.

As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.

Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emulsifier derived from castor oil.

As an emulsifying agent, it helps other ingredients like fragrances and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve cohesively.

Due to its large molecule size, it doesn't penetrate beyond the skin's surface.

This ingredient has a solid regulatory track record; the CIR Expert Panel first concluded it was safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% in 1997. A 2012 reassessment reaffirmed that finding. Safety studies have also found no irritation or evidence of toxicity.

A 2019 study did find this ingredient to grow Malassezia, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

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!

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

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

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Side-by-side

  1. 01Water
  2. 02Panthenol
  3. 03Niacinamide
  4. 04Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
  5. 05Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
  6. 06Myristyl Myristate
  7. 07Pentylene Glycol
  8. 08Glycerin
  9. 09C13-15 Alkane
  10. 10Squalene
  11. 11Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
  12. 12Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
  13. 13Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
  14. 14Mangifera Indica Seed Butter
  15. 15Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
  16. 16Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
  17. 17Propanediol
  18. 18Saccharide Isomerate
  19. 19Sodium Polyacrylate
  20. 20Hydrogenated Lecithin
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

03

Comparison edit

Read side by side