WildMint Clarity Drops Repairing Vitamin C Serum Versus Upcircle Peptide Serum With Custard Apple + Blood Orange

WildMint Clarity Drops Repairing Vitamin C Serum Versus Upcircle Peptide Serum With Custard Apple + Blood Orange

This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten dull-looking skin and refine the look of pores.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Phenoxyethanol

Xanthan Gum

Citric Acid

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

Pentylene Glycol

Benzoic Acid

Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract

Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract

Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract

Niacinamide

Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Tripeptide-1

Dextran

Diutan Gum

Tocopherol

Butylene Glycol

Sodium Dehydroacetate

Sodium Citrate

Phenylpropanol

Benzyl Alcohol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Citrus Sinensis Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Annona Cherimola Fruit Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tripeptide-1, Dextran, Diutan Gum, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Phenylpropanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

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.

Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:

Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.

On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.

Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

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!

Similar Comparisons