Caudalie Vinergetic C+ Vitamin C Energy Serum Versus Nuxe Prodigieuse Boost Vitamin C Glow Boosting Serum
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and Squalane to fade the look of dark spots.
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Glucoside and Lactobacillus Ferment 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 ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Phenylpropanol
Masking
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPicea Abies Wood Extract
Sodium Phytate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Water, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract, Glycerin, C14-22 Alcohols, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Phenylpropanol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Picea Abies Wood Extract, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water
MaskingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Levulinic Acid
Perfuming
Chondrus Crispus
Masking
Carrageenan
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Linalool
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Levulinic Acid, Chondrus Crispus, Carrageenan, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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
