Ursa Major Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum Versus Eminence Organics Marine Flower Peptide Serum

Ursa Major Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum Versus Eminence Organics Marine Flower Peptide Serum

This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Glycerin

Coco-Glucoside

Coconut Alcohol

Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract

Ascorbic Acid

Rosa Canina Seed Extract

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Glyceryl Caprylate

Sclerotium Gum

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil

Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Bisabolol

Sodium Anisate

Lactic Acid

Xanthan Gum

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Coconut Alcohol, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sclerotium Gum, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Bisabolol, Sodium Anisate, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum

Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract

Oryza Sativa Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil

Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract

Honey

Maltodextrin

Zea Mays Silk Extract

Heptyl Glucoside

Hamamelis Virginiana Extract

Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide

1,2-Hexanediol

Caprylyl Glycol

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Collagen Extract

Algae Extract

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Bulbine Frutescens Leaf Juice

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Citric Acid

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate

Sucrose

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Arbutin

Tropolone

Fucus Vesiculosus Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil

Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract

Arginine

Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract

Citrus Limon Fruit Extract

Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract

Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract

Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil

Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract

Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract

Cocos Nucifera Water

Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract

Tapioca Starch

Thioctic Acid

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Honey, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Zea Mays Silk Extract, Heptyl Glucoside, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Collagen Extract, Algae Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Bulbine Frutescens Leaf Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sucrose, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Arbutin, Tropolone, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Arginine, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata Fruit Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Cocos Nucifera Water, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Tapioca Starch, Thioctic Acid

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.

In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.

This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.

Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.

Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.

Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).

The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.

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.

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