Ingredient or product comparison
Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum
Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer US versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum. This brightening mo
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Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer Versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum Detailed comparison of Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Moisturizer US versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum. This brightening moisturizer is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin. This brightening serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. Water Dicaprylyl Carbonate 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Dimethicone Butylene Glycol Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate Ascorbyl Glucoside Squalane Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Acetyl Sh-Hexapeptide-5 Amide Acetate Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil Hydrogenated Lecithin Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Sodium Hyaluronate Oryza Sativa Bran Extract Propanediol Jojoba Esters Tocopherol Acetyl Zingerone Cetyl Palmitate Caprylyl Glycol Cetyl Alcohol Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax Sodium Hydroxide Sorbitan Olivate Sorbitan Palmitate Helianthus Annuus Extract Ethylhexylglycerin Hexylene Glycol Sodium Phytate Polysorbate 60 Sorbitan Isostearate Lecithin Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Glycine Soja Oil Lysolecithin Bacillus Ferment Citric Acid Polyglutamic Acid Beta-Sitosterol Phytic Acid Squalene Phenoxyethanol Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Squalane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acetyl Sh-Hexapeptide-5 Amide Acetate, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Propanediol, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Acetyl Zingerone, Cetyl Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Olivate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lecithin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Lysolecithin, Bacillus Ferment, Citric Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Beta-Sitosterol, Phytic Acid, Squalene, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Glycerin C9-12 Alkane Silica Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Xanthan Gum Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Glutathione Sodium Citrate Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract Urea Mannitol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Sodium PCA 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 L 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. Ascorbyl Glucoside (AA-2G) is one of the most stable vitamin C derivatives out there. It's made by attaching a glucose molecule to ascorbic acid; this glucose "cap" shields the vitamin C from air, light, heat, and metal ions that normally cause pure ascorbic acid to oxidize. Once on your skin, the enzyme alpha-glucosidase snips off the glucose and gradually releases active ascorbic acid right where it's needed. Basically, it behaves like a slow-release pro-vitamin C with less of a stinging that high-strength ascorbic acid can cause. The research supports the classic vitamin C benefits as well. In lab and human studies, AA-2G slowed down the skin's production of melanin (the pigment behind dark spots) and helped shield skin cells against sun damage better than ascorbyl phosphate. These studies also showed AA-2G released vitamin C over a longer period. A frequently cited manufacturer trial found that a 2% AA-2G face cream significantly improved wrinkle depth and skin roughness after 45 days. And in 2009, a clinical trial showed it meaningfully lightened dark patches on the gums compared to a placebo. There's also collagen-synthesis support (since vitamin C is a required cofactor for that) and an antioxidant effect too. Typical usage is usually between 0.5-5% and most studies/products land around 2%. AA-2G performs best when formulated at a mildly acidic pH (~5-7) which is much gentler than the pH that pure vitamin C demands (~2.5-3.5). Just one thing worth knowing: the in-skin conversation rate is only about 55-60% by weight. So a 5% AA-2G product delivers roughly 2.75-3% of actual active vitamin C. On top of that, skin absorption is relatively low because the ingredient is water-soluble. Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created. Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin. Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on). Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Its main roles are: Though it has "alcohol" in the name, it is not related to denatured alcohol or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe. It is a primary fatty alcohol with a chain length above 12 carbons. A study from 2019 show Malassezia can feed on fatty alcohols in this range, so it may trigger fungal acne in those prone to it. Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane. What it does: Dimethicone comes in different viscosities: Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties