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Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% Versus Medik8 C-Tetra® Luxe Lipid Vitamin C Enhanced Radiance Serum

Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% Versus Medik8 C-Tetra® Luxe Lipid Vitamin C Enhanced Radiance Serum This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. This brightening

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% Versus Medik8 C-Tetra® Luxe Lipid Vitamin C Enhanced Radiance Serum

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

This brightening serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Squalane to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Propylene Glycol

Water

Ascorbic Acid

Alcohol

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Ethoxydiglycol

Phenoxyethanol

Sorbitol

Sodium Hyaluronate

Zinc Chloride

Calcium Hydroxide

Parfum

Propylene Glycol, Water, Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc Chloride, Calcium Hydroxide, Parfum

Squalane

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Dimethicone

Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment

Citrus Grandis Peel Oil

Ethyl Linoleate

Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil

Tocopheryl Acetate

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Panax Ginseng Root Oil

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil

PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer

Limonene

Citral

Linalool

Geraniol

Squalane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dimethicone, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Ethyl Linoleate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, PPG-12/Smdi Copolymer, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Geraniol

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The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

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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. 03Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
  4. 04Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
  5. 05Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
  6. 06One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
  7. 07While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
  8. 08The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% be…
  9. 09Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
  10. 10Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at…
  11. 11Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
  12. 12Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
  13. 13Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
  14. 14In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
  15. 15Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
  16. 16Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
  17. 17Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
  18. 18You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
  19. 19Water. 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.
  20. 20So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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Product index

Related product references

Product

Obagi Professional-C Serum 20%

Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% Ingredients in Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% explained: benefits, concerns, and detailed analysis of 12 ingredients including Propylene Glycol, Water, and As…

Source: skinsort.comView reference →
03

Comparison edit

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