Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

Supergoop! Daily Dose Vitamin C + SPF 40 Versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

This chemical sunscreen covers most of the UV range, lighter on the deep UVA that drives aging.

This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Colloidal Oatmeal to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%

Homosalate 9%

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%

Octocrylene 6%

Water

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

C13-15 Alkane

Glycerin

Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate

Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate

Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer

Niacinamide

Phenethyl Benzoate

Polyester-25

Silica

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract

Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract

Bellis Perennis Flower Extract

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract

Glyceryl Caprylate

Disteardimonium Hectorite

Xanthan Gum

Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate

Magnesium Sulfate

Sodium Chloride

Citric Acid

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Sodium Citrate

Pentylene Glycol

Propanediol

Caprylyl Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Chlorphenesin

Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 9%, Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 6%, Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, C13-15 Alkane, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyhydroxystearate, Octyldodecyl Citrate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Phenethyl Benzoate, Polyester-25, Silica, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin

Squalane

Tocopheryl Acetate

Colloidal Oatmeal

Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Hydroxide

Tetrasodium EDTA

Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Colloidal Oatmeal, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA

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.

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare.

Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks:

In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen.

The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective.

A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model.

Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums).

Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your 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.

Aquaporin-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.

This 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.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate isn't fungal acne safe.

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.

The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).

Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

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!

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

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