Allies of Skin 35% Vitamin C+ Perfecting Serum Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum

Allies of Skin 35% Vitamin C+ Perfecting Serum Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum Detailed comparison of Allies of Skin 35% Vitamin C+ Perfecting Serum versus SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. This calming serum is formulated around Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to calm redness and brighten dull-looking skin. No concerns Ethoxydiglycol 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Dimethyl Isosorbide Isodecyl Neopentanoate Glutathione Superoxide Dismutase Ethylhexylglycerin Caprylyl Glycol Phenoxyethanol Ethoxydiglycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glutathione, Superoxide Dismutase, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol Water Butylene Glycol Propanediol Ethylhexyl Olivate Cetearyl Alcohol Chlorogenic Acids Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate Lauryl Lactate Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Ergothioneine Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract Carnosine Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract Curcuma Longa Root Extract Olea Europaea Fruit Extract Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2 Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract Ubiquinone Zingiber Officinale Root Extract Ceramide NP Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Linoleic Acid Linolenic Acid Sea Whip Extract Bisabolol Tocopherol Tocopheryl Acetate Cholesterol Phytosphingosine Jojoba Esters Sodium PCA Pentylene Glycol Methyl Gluceth-20 Glycerin Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax Lecithin Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Dicetyl Phosphate Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate Polyglycerin-3 Ceteth-20 Phosphate Diisostearyl Malate Xanthan Gum Steareth-2 Acacia Senegal Gum Carbomer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Dextran Sodium Hydroxide Citric Acid Disodium EDTA Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chlorogenic Acids, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lauryl Lactate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ergothioneine, Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Carnosine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract, Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Ubiquinone, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Sea Whip Extract, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Jojoba Esters, Sodium PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Lecithin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate, Polyglycerin-3, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Diisostearyl Malate, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-2, Acacia Senegal Gum, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dextran, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. 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. Superoxide Dismutase is found in all living cells. This ingredient is AKA as 'SOD'. SOD is a strong antioxidant. It protects living cells against oxidative damage by breaking down radical molecules into regular oxygen and