APRILSKIN Vitamin ACE Brightening Serum Versus Saint Jane The C Drops – 20% Vitamin C Blend Brightening Serum
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Tocopheryl Acetate to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening oil is formulated around Ferulic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Methylpropanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-3 Distearate
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
C12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Microcrystalline Cellulose
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlutathione
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Cellulose Gum
Emulsion StabilisingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantFructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Sorbitol
Humectant
Pullulan
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sucrose Stearate
EmollientMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Indigofera Tinctoria Extract
MaskingBeta-Carotene
Skin ConditioningHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hemerocallis Fulva Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Panthenol, Methylpropanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, C12-14 Pareth-12, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Bisabolol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glutathione, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine, Butylene Glycol, Hedera Helix Leaf/Stem Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ribes Nigrum Leaf Extract, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Fructooligosaccharides, Sorbitol, Pullulan, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hyaluronic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Madecassoside, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Indigofera Tinctoria Extract, Beta-Carotene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Hemerocallis Fulva Flower Extract, Cholesterol, Retinal, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Silica
Propanediol
Solvent
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
3-Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Punica Granatum Flower Extract
Skin Conditioning
Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Oil
Astringent
Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPropanediol, Water, Glycerin, 3-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Ferulic Acid, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Punica Granatum Flower Extract, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Citrus Paradisi Peel Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLitsea Cubeba Fruit Oil is also known as May Chang essential oil. It is mostly used as a fragrance ingredient and has a bright, sweet, and lemony scent.
The main fragrance compounds in this ingredient are citral (~70-85%) and limonene.
Citral has documented antimicrobial activity against acne bacteria (which is where the marketing claims about it being good for acne-prone skin originate), but real formulas use it at fragrance-level concentrations under 1%.
The main thing worth knowing is that citral is a known EU fragrance allergen so people with known fragrance sensitivities may want to skip it.
Unlike citrus oils, May Chang doesn't contain furocoumarins and therefore isn't phototoxic.
Learn more about Litsea Cubeba Fruit OilPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolWater. 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!
Learn more about Water
