Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum Versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum Versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum Detailed comparison of Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorby

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Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum Versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum Detailed comparison of Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Colloidal Oatmeal to brighten dull-looking skin and calm redness. Water Glycerin Propanediol Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Ascorbic Acid Glutathione Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract Carica Papaya Fruit Extract Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Sodium Hyaluronate Carbomer Tocopheryl Acetate Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol Citric Acid Hydroxyethylcellulose Sodium Hydroxide Beta-Glucan Potassium Sorbate Hexylene Glycol Sorbitol Xanthan Gum Algin Benzoic Acid Sorbic Acid 1,2-Hexanediol Sodium Benzoate Disodium Phosphate Gold Polysorbate 60 Sodium Phosphate Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Beta-Glucan, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Algin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Gold, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Phosphate 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Squalane Sodium Citrate Colloidal Oatmeal Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate Tetrasodium EDTA Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Colloidal Oatmeal, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA 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. 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. 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.