Medik8 C-Tetra™ Advanced Gel-Serum Versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum

Medik8 C-Tetra™ Advanced Gel-Serum Versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum Detailed comparison of Medik8 C-Tetra™ Advanced Gel-Serum versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Acetyl Glucosamine to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. This brightening serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. Water Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Isododecane Propanediol Acetyl Glucosamine Squalane Tocopherol Acetyl Zingerone Camellia Sinensis Leaf Hydroxyacetophenone Sodium Hyaluronate Cellulose Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Glycerin Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Citrus Grandis Peel Oil Sucrose Stearate Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate Ethylhexylglycerin Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Xanthan Gum Sodium Benzoate Cellulose Gum 1,2-Hexanediol Polysorbate 60 Sorbitan Isostearate Citric Acid Phenoxyethanol Citral Linalool Limonene Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Isododecane, Propanediol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Squalane, Tocopherol, Acetyl Zingerone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cellulose, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Cellulose Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Linalool, Limonene Dimethicone C9-12 Alkane Ascorbyl Glucoside Silica Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract Hydrogenated Lecithin Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Oryza Sativa Bran Extract Cetyl Alcohol Caprylyl Glycol Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Glutathione Sodium Citrate Sodium Phytate Hexylene Glycol Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract Urea Mannitol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Sodium PCA Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Trehalose Ascorbic Acid Glucose Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract Polyquaternium-51 Ergothioneine Triacetin Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Silica, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract, Urea, Mannitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trehalose, Ascorbic Acid, Glucose, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Ergothioneine, Triacetin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken, emulsify, and improve the texture of products. As an emulsifier, it helps stabilize oil-in-water emulsions to give products an elegant feel when applied. It can also form a thin protective film on skin. One study found that a formula using this polymer helped slow down how quickly other ingredients (like DEET) were absorbed through skin. A 2024 study of over 1,300 patients confirmed that sensitization to this ingredient is rare. It is also non-mutagenic and has a clean track record. 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. 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. This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel. It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients. 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