Updated on June 24, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan and reef safe . They have a total of 5 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Balea Vitamin C Serum 26 ingredients
Olival Vitamin Emulsion C+ 29 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Balea Vitamin C Serum 26 ingredients
Olival Vitamin Emulsion C+ 29 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLimonene
Perfuming
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientMalpighia Glabra Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
Benzyl Salicylate
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, Dicaprylyl Ether, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Glycerin, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Sclerotium Gum, Stearyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Tocopherol, Geraniol, Citral
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Isohexadecane
EmollientFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Propanediol
Solvent
Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-80
CleansingCeteareth-25
CleansingGlycerin
Humectant
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Behenic Acid
Cleansing
Cholesterol
Emollient
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Eos
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Caprooyl Sphingosine
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDidecyldimonium Chloride
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Dimethylacrylamide Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Isohexadecane, Ferulic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propanediol, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Polyquaternium-80, Ceteareth-25, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Methylpropanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Didecyldimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin 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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Balea Vitamin C Serum 26 ingredients
Olival Vitamin Emulsion C+ 29 ingredients
Reviews
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