Skin science article
Versed Advanced Restoring Serum Versus The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C And EGF Serum
Versed Advanced Restoring Serum Versus The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C And EGF Serum This anti-aging serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Ferulic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin. This brightening serum is for
Versed Advanced Restoring Serum Versus The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C And EGF Serum
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Ferulic Acid to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
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
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Propanediol
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Ethylhexyl Olivate
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Diheptyl Succinate
Arachidyl Alcohol
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Phloretin
Ferulic Acid
Pullulan
Maris Aqua
Squalane
Sodium Hyaluronate
Tocopherol
Helianthus Annuus Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Oryza Sativa Bran Extract
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Behenyl Alcohol
Citric Acid
Arachidyl Glucoside
Xanthan Gum
Sodium Citrate
Potassium Sorbate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Panthenol
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
T-Butyl Alcohol
Sorbitan Isostearate
Glucose
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Phenoxyethanol
CI 77491
CI 77499
Water, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Propanediol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Phloretin, Ferulic Acid, Pullulan, Maris Aqua, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Arachidyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, T-Butyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glucose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491, CI 77499
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Sodium Hydroxide
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Benzyl Alcohol
Butylene Glycol
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
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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.
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.