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Skin science article

The INKEY List Vitamin C Serum Versus Beautycounter Counter+ All Bright C Serum

The INKEY List Vitamin C Serum Versus Beautycounter Counter+ All Bright C Serum This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. This brightening serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl

By Peptide Skincare & Beauty Editorial TeamPublished

The INKEY List Vitamin C Serum Versus Beautycounter Counter+ All Bright C Serum

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

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Dimethicone

Ascorbic Acid 30%

Polysilicone-11

PEG-10 Dimethicone

Dimethicone, Ascorbic Acid 30%, Polysilicone-11, PEG-10 Dimethicone

Water

Propanediol

Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Pentylene Glycol

Coconut Alkanes

Glycerin

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract

Curcumin

Sodium Hyaluronate

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

Phytic Acid

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate

Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil

Ethylhexylglycerin

Potassium Sorbate

Phenoxyethanol

Decanal

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Ionone

Ethyl Lactate

Vanillin

Isoamyl Acetate

Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate

Methoxyphenylbutanone

Oxacycloheptadec-10-En-2-One

Dimethylhydroxy Furanone

Ethyl Propionate

Ethyl Cinnamate

Hexenyl Acetate

Triethyl Citrate

Benzyl Acetate

Ethyl Acetate

Citral

Limonene

Linalool

Water, Propanediol, Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Curcumin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Phytic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Flower Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Decanal, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Ionone, Ethyl Lactate, Vanillin, Isoamyl Acetate, Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate, Methoxyphenylbutanone, Oxacycloheptadec-10-En-2-One, Dimethylhydroxy Furanone, Ethyl Propionate, Ethyl Cinnamate, Hexenyl Acetate, Triethyl Citrate, Benzyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Citral, Limonene, Linalool

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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 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. 03Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
  4. 04Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
  5. 05It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
  6. 06Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
  7. 07A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
  8. 08Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
  9. 09As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
  10. 10Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
  11. 11The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure …
  12. 12Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
  13. 13Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
  14. 14Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
  15. 15Your 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.
  16. 16Aquaporin-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.
  17. 17This 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.
  18. 18Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
  19. 19Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
  20. 20Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an amino-acid based emulsifier. It is made by combining stearic acid with L-glutamic acid and neutralizing it to a sodium salt.
Source · skinsort.com ⟶
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