TruSkin Vitamin C Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin E Versus The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C And EGF Serum

TruSkin Vitamin C Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin E Versus The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C And EGF Serum

This brightening serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.

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

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Dimethyl Sulfone

Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Tocopheryl Acetate

Glycerin

Arginine

Carbomer

Centella Asiatica Extract

Equisetum Arvense Extract

Taraxacum Officinale Extract

Pelargonium Graveolens Extract

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Sodium Hydroxide

Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dimethyl Sulfone, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Arginine, Carbomer, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide

Ascorbyl Glucoside

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Benzyl Alcohol

Butylene Glycol

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Metabisulfite

Dehydroacetic Acid

Phytic Acid

Oligopeptide-1

Water, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hydroxide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Metabisulfite, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phytic Acid, Oligopeptide-1

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.

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The 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 to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

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.

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

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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