Versus

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye Treatment Versus Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Treatment Serum

Eye Moisturizer
Serum
American Brand United States
American Brand United States

Updated on March 12, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 12 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

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

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye Treatment
Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Treatment Serum

Water

Skin Conditioning

Propanediol

Solvent

C9-12 Alkane

Solvent

Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract

Astringent

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

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

Tranexamic Acid

Astringent
Good for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Emulsion Stabilising

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Skin Conditioning
Vitamin C IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores Icon

Ascorbyl Glucoside

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

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

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

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

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

Psidium Guajava Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Ferulic Acid

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Extract

Skin Conditioning

Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract

Astringent

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Skin Conditioning

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Skin Conditioning

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate

Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycerin

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

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Hydroxyacetophenone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Cleansing

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Betaine

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Lecithin

Emollient

Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Sodium Phytate

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Decyl Glucoside

Cleansing

Lauryl Glucoside

Cleansing

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

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

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

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
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.

THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).

Because itโ€™s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skinโ€™s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.

Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when itโ€™s stressed from pollution or sun.

Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? Youโ€™ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.

A note on THD: Itโ€™s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).

While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.

THD is pretty stable, but itโ€™s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113ยฐF / 45ยฐC) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Masking, Skin Conditioning

This ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.

Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Skin Conditioning

You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.

Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.

Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.

The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5

Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate
Astringent, Skin Conditioning

Tranexamic Acid is best used for treating hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and melasma. It can also help build a stronger skin barrier.

Once applied, Tranexamic Acid starts decreasing inflammation from UV exposure. Tranexamic Acid also prevents our skin cells from meeting the pigment production cells.

Its brightening property makes it great at reducing the appearance of acne scars and marks.

Fun fact: Tranexamic Acid is also a medication used to reduce heavy bleeding.

This acid is derived from lysine, an amino acid.

Learn more about Tranexamic Acid
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant

Ferulic Acid is a plant based antioxidant. By fighting free-radicals, ferulic acid can help reduce the formation of fine lines and hyperpigmentation.

When used with Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid has shown to prevent Vitamin C from breaking down. In other words, it acts as a stabilizer.

Ferulic Acid is sometimes used to preserve food. Foods containing Ferulic Acid include: oats, rice, eggplant, citrus.

In medicine, Ferulic Acid is being studied for helping with diabetes, Alzheimer's, and cardiovascular diseases.

Learn more about Ferulic Acid
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
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
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid
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.

Preservative

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

Learn more about Potassium Sorbate

When to use

29 Routines
76% use in am
24% use in pm
90% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
157 Routines
78% use in am
24% use in pm
90% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye Treatment 49 ingredients

Vitamin C Lactic Firm & Bright Eye Treatment hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Treatment Serum 47 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 6 ratings
Works Well (2) Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1)
Butter's avatar

Butter

1 year ago
Review

โ‹†.เณƒเฟ”*:๏ฝฅ ๐ŸคŽ

๐Ÿฅฅ ๐Œ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ž: ๐ƒ๐ซ๐ฒ/๐ฌ๐ž๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž, ๐š๐œ๐ง๐ž ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ž๐œ๐ณ๐ž๐ฆ๐š ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ž.

๐Ÿชด ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ:

ยทหš เผ˜โ‚Šยท อŸอŸอžอž๊’ฐโžณ ๐ˆ๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐๐ž๐Ÿ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ž๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ž๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž ๐š๐ญ ๐›๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐š๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐ž๐ฏ๐ž๐ง. ๐๐ข๐œ๐ž ๐ญ๐ž๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž, ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐œ๐ค๐ฒ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฐ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ. ๐‡๐ž๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐š๐œ๐ง๐ž ๐ญ๐จ๐จ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ž๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ .

๐ŸŒต ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐ฌ:

โ•ฐโ”ˆโžค ๐ˆ ๐ ๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐š๐ฌ ๐š "๐Ÿ๐ซ๐ž๐ž ๐ ๐ข๐Ÿ๐ญ" (๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ณ๐ž๐) ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐š ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐›๐š๐›๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ง'๐ญ ๐ก๐š๐ฏ๐ž ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž Show more

#expensive
#light
#absorbs well
#light scent
Daniel.Chin's avatar

Daniel Chin

1 year ago
Review

Full of amazing ingredients; has totally reduced the need for me to cocktail and upset my ph balance.

#works well