Ingredient or product comparison
Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum
Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum Detailed comparison of Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around
This source-based comparison does not add ratings or recommend a winner.
Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum Detailed comparison of Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness. Propylene Glycol Water Ascorbic Acid Alcohol Ascorbyl Glucoside Ethoxydiglycol Phenoxyethanol Sorbitol Sodium Hyaluronate Zinc Chloride Calcium Hydroxide Parfum Propylene Glycol, Water, Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc Chloride, Calcium Hydroxide, Parfum Butylene Glycol Propanediol Ethylhexyl Olivate Cetearyl Alcohol Chlorogenic Acids Niacinamide Lauryl Lactate Dimethyl Isosorbide Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Allyl Ester Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate 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 Plankton Extract Micrococcus Lysate Arginine 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 Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Carbomer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Dextran Ricinoleth-40 Sodium Hydroxide Citric Acid Sodium Phytate Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chlorogenic Acids, Niacinamide, Lauryl Lactate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Allyl Ester, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, 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, Plankton Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Arginine, 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, X Be the first to review These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. 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. Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product. So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation. You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!