COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum Versus Clear Nose Vitamin C Concentrate Super Serum
Updated on June 28, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
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
COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum 25 ingredients
Clear Nose Vitamin C Concentrate Super Serum 54 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum 25 ingredients
Clear Nose Vitamin C Concentrate Super Serum 54 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid 13%
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingTromethamine
Buffering3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningCaffeine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Sulfite
Preservative
Disodium EDTA
Glutathione
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dextrin
AbsorbentSqualane
Emollient
Tocotrienols
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Water, Ascorbic Acid 13%, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Tromethamine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfite, Disodium EDTA, Glutathione, Adenosine, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Dextrin, Squalane, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Arginine, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl 2-Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glutathione
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin ConditioningNarcissus Poeticus Callus Extract
Antioxidant
Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Antiseborrhoeic
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
Emollient
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed
Perfuming
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract
MaskingCitrus Nobilis Fruit Extract
MaskingOenothera Biennis Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitic Acid
Emollient
Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Pancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingPhellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDna
Skin ConditioningPhenylpropanol
Masking
Prunus Persica Leaf Extract
EmollientRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningMalic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lecithin
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Beeswax
Emulsion Stabilising
Benzalkonium Chloride
Antimicrobial
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Isomerized Safflower Acid
Skin ConditioningKaolin
Abrasive
Linseed Acid
CleansingAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Water, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Glycerin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylyl 2-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ferulic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Arbutin, Glutathione, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Narcissus Poeticus Callus Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Algae Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis Seed Extract, Palmitic Acid, Palmitoyl Sh-Octapeptide-24 Amide, Palmitoyl Sh-Tripeptide-5 Norisoleucyl Sh-Nonapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Dna, Phenylpropanol, Prunus Persica Leaf Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 80, Beeswax, Benzalkonium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Isomerized Safflower Acid, Kaolin, Linseed Acid, Ascorbic Acid
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterAscorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.
Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.
Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.
Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.
The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.
Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
Learn more about Ascorbic AcidButylene 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.
Glutathione is an antioxidant naturally found in our bodies. It is made up of three amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid.
As an antioxidant, it prevents oxidative damage to parts of our cell.
While glutathione is said to help with fading dark spots, the results from research are inconclusive. Further studies are needed. With that said, gluthatione has been shown to protect our skin from UV-B induced damage.
This ingredient is naturally occurring in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria.
Learn more about GlutathioneTocopherol (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 TocopherolNiacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamidePentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum 25 ingredients
Clear Nose Vitamin C Concentrate Super Serum 54 ingredients
