Osmosis Beauty Catalyst AC-11 DNA Repair C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C25 Super Booster

Osmosis Beauty Catalyst AC-11 DNA Repair C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C25 Super Booster

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

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Sodium Bicarbonate

Ketoglutaric Acid

Ascorbic Acid

Glycine

Propanediol

Proline

Lysine Hcl

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Alanine

Zinc Gluconate

Dimethicone

Alcohol Denat.

Citrus Grandis Peel Oil

Uncaria Tomentosa Extract

Copper Gluconate

Acetyl Cysteine

Phospholipids

Tocopheryl Acetate

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder

Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract

Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate

Glycerin

Magnesium Chloride

Butylene Glycol

Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate

Xanthan Gum

Benzyl Alcohol

Potassium Sorbate

Water, Sodium Bicarbonate, Ketoglutaric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Glycine, Propanediol, Proline, Lysine Hcl, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alanine, Zinc Gluconate, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Uncaria Tomentosa Extract, Copper Gluconate, Acetyl Cysteine, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Glycerin, Magnesium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate

Cyclopentasiloxane

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate

Polysilicone-11

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Disteardimonium Hectorite

Propylene Carbonate

Cyclopentasiloxane, Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.

Not 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:

Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.

One 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.

While 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.

The 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% being the upper limit for effective absorption.

Skin 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.

Ascorbic 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 the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.

Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.

What it does:

Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:

Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.

Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.

This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.

Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.

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