Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum

Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum

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

This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.

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

Butylene Glycol

Propanediol

Ethylhexyl Olivate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Chlorogenic Acids

Niacinamide

Lauryl Lactate

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Allyl Ester

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Ergothioneine

Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone

Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract

Carnosine

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Olea Europaea Fruit Extract

Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract

Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2

Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract

Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract

Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract

Superoxide Dismutase

Ubiquinone

Plankton Extract

Micrococcus Lysate

Arginine

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Ceramide NP

Ceramide AP

Ceramide EOP

Linoleic Acid

Linolenic Acid

Sea Whip Extract

Bisabolol

Tocopherol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Cholesterol

Phytosphingosine

Jojoba Esters

Sodium PCA

Pentylene Glycol

Methyl Gluceth-20

Glycerin

Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax

Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax

Lecithin

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Dicetyl Phosphate

Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate

Polyglycerin-3

Ceteth-20 Phosphate

Diisostearyl Malate

Xanthan Gum

Steareth-2

Acacia Senegal Gum

Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Carbomer

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Dextran

Ricinoleth-40

Sodium Hydroxide

Citric Acid

Sodium Phytate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chlorogenic Acids, Niacinamide, Lauryl Lactate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Allyl Ester, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ergothioneine, Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Carnosine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract, Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Ubiquinone, Plankton Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Arginine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Sea Whip Extract, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Jojoba Esters, Sodium PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Lecithin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate, Polyglycerin-3, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Diisostearyl Malate, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-2, Acacia Senegal Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dextran, Ricinoleth-40, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.

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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