No B.S. Vitamin C +E Serum Versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

No B.S. Vitamin C +E Serum Versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum Detailed comparison of No B.S. Vitamin C +E Serum versus First Aid Beauty 10% Vitamin C Brightening Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Tocopheryl Acetate 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 Propanediol Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Glycerin Tocopheryl Acetate Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Sodium Hyaluronate Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Centella Asiatica Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Punica Granatum Fruit Extract Ferulic Acid Xanthan Gum Decyl Glucoside Hydroxyethylcellulose Arginine Citric Acid Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Propanediol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Arginine, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Squalane Sodium Citrate Colloidal Oatmeal Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Sodium Hydroxide 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. Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (tea extract) is one of the most well-researched plant extracts in skincare with an impressive resume. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Studies show green tea extract and its catechins (like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) help your skin cells product energy more efficiently and reducing the number of free-radicals that can damage your skin from the inside. In lab-grown skin models, this translated to younger, healthier, and stronger skin. There's also good sun protection data; researchers saw less DNA damage and redness on human skin when green tea was applied before UVB exposure. And the more they applied, the better the protection. Needless to say, this ingredient shouldn't replace your sunscreen. But it is a great supportive ingredient that you can already find in many sunscreens and antioxidant serums. A 2009 study found a 2% green tea lotion was effective for mild-to-moderate acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity. The quality of the extract matters a lot here: Good extracts contain 50-90% catechins while lower quality ones are mostly there for marketing. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the quality or source of their ingredients. Human Repeated Insult Patch Testing showed no irritation or sensitization at use concentrations (0.86% in leave-on products and up to 30% as leaf water). 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 everybo