Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster Detailed comparison of StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster. This brightening serum is formul

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StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster Detailed comparison of StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster. This brightening serum is formulated around Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and soften the look of wrinkles. Water Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Glycereth-7 Triacetate Pentylene Glycol Polysorbate 20 Dipropylene Glycol Glycerin Dimethyl Isosorbide Ascorbyl Glucoside Ascorbic Acid Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice Retinol Sodium Hyaluronate Myristyl Nicotinate Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide Orobanche Rapum Extract Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Xylitylglucoside Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone Anhydroxylitol Adenosine Xylitol Glucose Ethylhexylglycerin Lecithin Xanthan Gum Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Propanediol Maltodextrin Rhizobian Gum Mica Parfum Limonene Linalool Geraniol Citral Citronellol Benzyl Benzoate Chlorphenesin Phenoxyethanol BHT BHA Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate CI 77491 CI 77891 Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Myristyl Nicotinate, Tamarindus Indica Seed Polysaccharide, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Bacillus/Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Anhydroxylitol, Adenosine, Xylitol, Glucose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Rhizobian Gum, Mica, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, BHT, BHA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 77491, CI 77891 Ethoxydiglycol Sodium Hydroxide PPG-26-Buteth-26 PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Bisabolol Ferulic Acid Sodium Phytate Decylene Glycol Tocopherol 1,2-Hexanediol Sphingomonas Ferment Extract Water, Ascorbic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bisabolol, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Decylene Glycol, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Phenoxyethanol 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. Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin. Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for: Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently. One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin. While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects. The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption. Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits. Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day. Read more about other types of Vitamin C: Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients. Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent. This ingredient helps: Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol. As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent. Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare. 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