Ingredient or product comparison
Sephora Collection Super Glow Serum With Vitamin C+E Versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum
Sephora Collection Super Glow Serum With Vitamin C+E Versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum Detailed comparison of Sephora Collection Super Glow Serum With Vitamin C+E versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum.
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Sephora Collection Super Glow Serum With Vitamin C+E Versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum Detailed comparison of Sephora Collection Super Glow Serum With Vitamin C+E versus Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum. This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. This brightening serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots. Water Propanediol Pentylene Glycol Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 1,2-Hexanediol Ascorbyl Glucoside Triethyl Citrate Glycerin PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum Glyceryl Caprylate Phytic Acid Citric Acid Sodium Gluconate Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Metabisulfite Tocopherol Sodium Dehydroacetate Chlorella Vulgaris Extract Glucose Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Triethyl Citrate, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tocopherol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glucose, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Dimethicone C9-12 Alkane 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 Glutathione Sodium Citrate Sodium Phytate Hexylene Glycol Ethylhexylglycerin Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract Urea Mannitol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Sodium PCA Polysorbate 60 Sorbitan Isostearate Trehalose Ascorbic Acid Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract Polyquaternium-51 Ergothioneine Triacetin Sodium Hyaluronate Phenoxyethanol 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. 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. Glucose is a simple sugar (a monosaccharide). In skincare, it is mostly a humectant and skin conditioning agent. Mechanistically, it has multiple hydroxyl groups that hydrogen-bond to water. This pulls moisture into the upper layers of skin to keep the surface soft and hydrated. It's worth knowing sugars are already a natural component of the skin's NMF (natural moisturizing factor) so it's a molecule that your stratum corneum is well-acquainted with. Just so you know, glucose is hydrophilic (water-loving) and the stratum corneum is a strong barrier to hydrophilic compounds. This just means penetration is slow and most of the action is happening on the surface. Gram-to-gram, glucose is not as efficient as a humectant as glycerin. This is why you'll likely see glycose paired with stronger humectants for a bigger hydration payoff. In skincare, glucose is typically derived from corn or other starch sources. 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 fro