Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum Versus Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum

Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum Versus Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum Detailed comparison of Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum versus Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum. This brightening serum is formulated aroun

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Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum Versus Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum Detailed comparison of Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum versus Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Glutathione to brighten dull-looking skin. This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Tocopherol to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. Propanediol Glycerin 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Benzimidazole Diamond Amidoethyl Urea Carbamoyl Propyl Polymethylsilsesquioxane Dimethyl Isosorbide Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-10 Tristearate Ethoxydiglycol Dicaprylyl Ether Water Caprylyl Glycol Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract Glutathione Acetyl Cysteine Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol Ergothioneine Tocopherol Gluconolactone Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Xanthan Gum Silica Sodium Benzoate Calcium Gluconate Phenoxyethanol Propanediol, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Benzimidazole Diamond Amidoethyl Urea Carbamoyl Propyl Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-10 Tristearate, Ethoxydiglycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract, Glutathione, Acetyl Cysteine, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Ergothioneine, Tocopherol, Gluconolactone, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol Ascorbic Acid Laureth-23 Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract Ferulic Acid Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Sodium Hyaluronate Oryza Sativa Bran Extract Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane Pentylene Glycol Caprylhydroxamic Acid Sorbic Acid Chondrus Crispus Extract Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ascorbic Acid, Laureth-23, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract, Ferulic Acid, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created. Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin. Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on). Dimethyl Isosorbide (often shortened to DMI) is a sugar-derived solvent made from sorbitol. It's used to dissolve tricky ingredients and help them mix smoothly into a formula. Many actives sit as gritty crystals when undissolved, so DMI swoops in to full dissolve them. This helps improve texture, stability, and how evenly an active is distributed. It does have a penetration-enhancing reputation that is a bit more nuanced than marketing suggests; a cell study on human skin found that 10% DMI didn't significantly boost the permeation of Hydroquinone, Salicylic Acid, or Octadecenedioic Acid compared to controls (though it did improve their solubility in the formula itself). Typical usage concentrations usually range from 1-10% depending on the formula's needs; this ingredient is also well tolerated at these levels. Gluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs. When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin. PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation. Gluconolactone has some interesting properties: In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily. This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol. 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 E