Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum Versus Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum versus Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum .

Last updated on April 05, 2024. Published on September 11, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

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Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum

Serum American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

Starts at $19.99

Shop

Buy Vitamin C Serum

Starts at $17.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum 17 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum 17 ingredients

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Dark Spots

Scar Healing

Brightening

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Exfoliators

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture (2)

Anti-Aging (3)

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum 17 ingredients

Water • Alpha-Arbutin • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sambucus Nigra Fruit Juice • Glycerin • Sclerotium Gum • Xanthan Gum • Sodium Levulinate • Polyglutamic Acid • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Propanediol • Sodium Phytate • Ethylhexylglycerin • Sodium Anisate • Citric Acid

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate • C16-17 Alkyl Benzoate • Glycerin • Water • Sodium Levulinate • Sodium Anisate • Salvia Sclarea Oil • Citrus Grandis • Hyaluronic Acid • Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf • Tocotrienols • Ferulic Acid • Chamomilla Recutita Extract • Sodium Phytate • Xanthan Gum • Hydroxyethylcellulose

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

Sodium Levulinate

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Sodium levulinate is the a sodium salt of Levulinic Acid. If dissolved in an aqueous solution, the two ingredients become identical.

It is a skin conditioning agent, meaning it helps soften and hydrate your skin.

According to Cosmetic Ingredient Review, the highest amounts of sodium levulinate are found in mouthwashes at 0.62%.

Learn more about Sodium Levulinate

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

Hydroxyethylcellulose

What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Stabilising

Community Rating: Mixed

Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.

Hydroxyethylcellulose helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.

This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.

Learn more about Hydroxyethylcellulose

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

Sodium Phytate

What it does:

Community Rating: Liked

Sodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.

Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.

Sodium Anisate

What it does: Antimicrobial

Sodium Anisate comes from fennel. It is used as a preservative and to add flavoring.

Sodium Anisate has antimicrobial properties.

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum 17 ingredients

56% are loved or liked

13% have mixed ratings

19% are disliked or very disliked

13% have no rating yet

53% are loved or liked

6% have mixed ratings

6% are disliked or very disliked

35% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum 17 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Acure Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum 16 ingredients

4.5 /5

from 2 ratings

Light (2) Absorbs Well (1) Hydrating (1) Works Well (1)

hobimiin_110

4 months ago · Normal Skin

Review

I have fungal acne and a damaged moisture barrier. I find that this serum doesn’t sting or irritate my skin. It is gentle, hydrating, and soothing....

I have fungal acne and a damaged moisture barrier. I find that this serum doesn’t sting or irritate my skin. It is gentle, hydrating, and soothing. My skin has brightened up after two weeks of use. I love that this serum has aloe fruit juice and elderberry extract. They are such soothing ingredients for my skin. In terms of texture, this serum is watery with a slight slip to it. It has a pleasant texture. I haven’t experienced any stickiness or pilling.

Acure

Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

DamDamfino

3 months ago · Combination Skin

Review

I got a small 10ml tester size of this, and while I don't think I was able to use it long enough to see any results, I also didn't have any...

I got a small 10ml tester size of this, and while I don't think I was able to use it long enough to see any results, I also didn't have any negative side effects while using it either. No irritation or breakouts. I mixed it with the Cosrx snail mucin essence in my hand before application to combine two steps in one.

Acure

Brightening 2% Alpha Arbutin Serum

Light