Versus

Clinique Even Better Clinical Brightening Moisturizer Versus Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Cream

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on June 28, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 12 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, sensitive skin, reducing pores, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens 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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Even Better Clinical Brightening Moisturizer

Water

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Octyldodecyl Myristate

Emollient

Dimethicone

Emollient
1 / 0 Silicon Icon

Di-C12-15 Alkyl Fumarate

Emollient

Isopropyl Isostearate

Emollient
4-5 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Diisostearyl Malate

Emollient

PEG-100 Stearate

0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

PEG-8

Humectant

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Tribehenin

Emollient
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Acetyl Glucosamine

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Humectant
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Sucrose

Humectant

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract

Emollient

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Saccharomyces Lysate Extract

Humectant

Algae Extract

Emollient
May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

Emollient

Yeast Extract

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Moisturising

Salicylic Acid

Masking
BHA IconPreservative IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Cholesterol

Emollient
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Propylene Glycol Dicaprate

Emollient

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Behenyl Alcohol

Emollient
Fatty Alcohol Icon

Cetearyl Glucoside

Emulsifying

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Potassium Hydroxide

Buffering

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Disodium Phosphate

Buffering

Sodium Phosphate

Buffering

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Dimethoxytolyl Propylresorcinol

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Sorbitan Oleate

Emulsifying
3 / 0 Bad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polysilicone-11

Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride

Skin Conditioning

Hexylene Glycol

Emulsifying
0-2 / 0-1

Polysorbate 80

Emulsifying
0 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Isohexadecane

Emollient

Disodium EDTA

BHT

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Chlorphenesin

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon
Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Cream

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

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
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the tea plant. Black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are all harvested from this plant.

This ingredient has many skin benefits:

This ingredient contains polyphenols, a strong antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight off molecules that damage skin cells.

On top of that, the antioxidants in green tea neutralize free-radicals from the sun. This gives the skin some extra UV protection, but should not replace sunscreen.

Many components of tea have anti-inflammatory properties.

Polyphenols and L-theanine help soothe the skin and reduce irritation. The caffeine in Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract helps calm inflamed blood vessels.

Other compounds found in tea include: Vitamin Bs, linoleic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.

Research has shown both drinking Camellia Sinensis Leaf Tea and applying it to the skin can help boost skin elasticity and hydration. Studies also show using tea extract may reduce sebum, or oil, production.

Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol
Buffering

Sodium 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 Hydroxide
Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant. Glycols are a class of alcohols. Hexylene Glycol is a surfactant and emulsifier.

As a surfactant, Hexylene Glycol helps gather dirt and oil on your skin to be washed away.

As an emulsifier, Hexylene Glycol helps keep water and oil together. This prevents them from separating in a product. Hexylene Glycol also thins out the texture of a product by lessening viscosity.

Hexylene Glycol has a small molecular weight.

Learn more about Hexylene Glycol

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken and improve the texture of products. Due to its properties, it can prevent water and oil ingredients from separating.

Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

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 Glycol

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

When to use

7 Routines
71% use in am
29% use in pm
86% use every day
21 Routines
67% use in am
33% use in pm
90% use every day

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Clinique Even Better Clinical Brightening Moisturizer 57 ingredients

1.0 /5
from 1 rating
PeeyJeey's avatar

PeeyJeey

2 years ago
Review

Piling
I've tried it multiple times with different combinations of my skin care products, i've even tried it with nothing else on and there's always piling i'm not sure why. It also doesnt feel very moisturizing.

Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Cream 28 ingredients

1.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Heavy (2) Drying (1) Irritating (1)
Kuk's avatar

Kuk

1 year ago
Review

It caused redness for me so definitely not for sensitive skin

#irritating
#heavy
fawns's avatar

🐾

10 months ago
Review

β™‘οΈŽ
- π—‰π—‹π—ˆπ–»π–Ίπ–»π—…π—’ π—π—ˆπ—Žπ—…π–½π—‡'𝗍 π—‹π–Ύπ—‰π—Žπ—‹π–Όπ—π–Ίπ—Œπ–Ύ
- 𝖽𝗂𝖽𝗇'𝗍 π—Žπ—Œπ–Ύ π—…π—ˆπ—‡π—€ π–Ύπ—‡π—ˆπ—Žπ—€π— π—π—ˆ 𝖽𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗂𝖿 𝗂𝗍 π–Ίπ–Όπ—π—Žπ–Ίπ—…π—…π—’ π—π—ˆπ—‹π—„π—Œ π—ˆπ—‹ π—‡π—ˆπ—; π—€π—ˆπ— 𝗂𝗆𝗉𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗇𝗍
- π–Όπ—ˆπ—Žπ—…π–½π—‡β€™π— π—Œπ—π–Ίπ—‡π–½ 𝗍𝗁𝖾 π—Œπ—†π–Ύπ—…π—… 𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗅
- π—π–Ίπ—Œ 𝗄𝗂𝗇𝖽𝖺 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗄 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 π—π—π—ˆπ—Žπ—€π— 𝗂𝗍 π—π–Ίπ—Œπ—‡'𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 π—†π—ˆπ—‚π—Œπ—π—Žπ—‹π—‚π—“π—‚π—‡π—€
- 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾'π—Œ 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 π—…π—ˆπ—π—‚π—ˆπ—‡π—Œ π—ˆπ—Žπ— 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾

#drying
#heavy
#strong scent