Balance Active Formula Vitamin C Brightening Serum Glow & Radiance Versus Anua Vitamin C 20 Blemish Serum
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingC12-14 Pareth-12
EmulsifyingBisabolol
Antioxidant
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingWater
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingVinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Glutathione
Rose Flower Oil
Masking
Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Masking
Mentha Spicata Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract
Skin ConditioningT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate
Skin Conditioning
Sorbitol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Zea Mays Oil
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Lycopodium Clavatum Extract
Skin ConditioningEquisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pyridoxine
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Folic Acid
Skin ConditioningBiotin
AntiseborrhoeicCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingRiboflavin
Cosmetic ColorantLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Hesperidin
EmollientErgothioneine
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Hydroxide, C12-14 Pareth-12, Bisabolol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Water, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Vinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Glycerin, Glutathione, Rose Flower Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Adenosine, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Mentha Spicata Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Paeonia Suffruticosa Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Zea Mays Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Thioctic Acid, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Pyridoxine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Ceramide NP, Ubiquinone, Cyanocobalamin, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Linoleic Acid, Hesperidin, Ergothioneine, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin C. It is the salt of ascorbic acid.
This ingredient is commonly used in skincare because it's more formulation-stable while still offering the same benefits as pure ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is notorious for breaking down when exposed to sunlight and oxygen whereas SAP has been shown to be more stable.
Studies show SAP has anti-acne and antioxidant benefits. One study found 5% of SAP lotion to be an effective ingredient for treating acne vulgaris. This is because research shows that SAP may help control acne by reducing acne-causing bacteria and slowing the oxidation of skin oils caused by UV exposure.
In addition to acne, vitamin C is important for skin structure. Lab studies suggest SAP may support collagen production in skin cells, making it a great ingredient in anti-aging routines.
Vitamin C has many benefits: it helps reduce redness, improve skin texture, fade the appearance of dark spots, and brighten the skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateWater. 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
