Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum Versus Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum

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Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum versus Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum .

Published on September 05, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, 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, common allergens, parabens 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 need an update? Let us know.

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Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum

Serum American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum

Starts at $78.00

Shop

Buy Retinol Vita C Power Serum

Starts at $110.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum 47 ingredients

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum 36 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum 47 ingredients

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum 36 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Hyaluronic Acid (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging (4)

Dark Spots (3)

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid

Vitamin C

Vitamin E (2)

Hyaluronic Acid (2)

Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing

Skin Texture (3)

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging (5)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (5)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (5)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)

Acne Trigger

Irritating (3)

Rosacea

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum 47 ingredients

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum 36 ingredients

Water • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Ascorbic Acid • Laureth-23 • Glycerin • Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract • Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract • Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Tocopherol • Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Hydrolyzed Quinoa • Phytosterols • Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole • Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein • Ferulic Acid • Acetyl Glucosamine • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane • Tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane • Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane • Glycine • Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate • Sucrose • Maltodextrin • Chondrus Crispus Extract • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Isohexadecane • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylhydroxamic Acid • Caprylyl Glycol • Sorbitan Isostearate • Propanediol • Pentylene Glycol • Xanthan Gum • Butylene Glycol • Sodium Hydroxide • Chlorphenesin • Polysorbate 60 • Sodium Dehydroacetate • Potassium Sorbate • Sorbic Acid • Ethylhexylglycerin

Water • Dimethicone • Propanediol • Polysilicone-11 • Polysorbate 20 • Isocetyl Stearate • Volcanic Soil • Glyceryl Stearate • Isohexadecane • Peg-100 Stearate • Parfum • Retinol • Ascorbic Acid • Tocopheryl Acetate • Hyaluronic Acid • Physalis Angulata Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tocopherol • Hexapeptide-2 • Ethylhexylglycerin • Amylopectin • Peg-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether • Adenosine • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • 1,2-Hexanediol • Butylene Glycol • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Polyisobutene • Sorbitan Isostearate • Stearic Acid • Polysorbate 80 • Dimethiconol • Caprylhydroxamic Acid • BHA • Disodium EDTA

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Ascorbic Acid

What it does: Antioxidant, Buffering, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Ascorbic 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 Acid

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Tocopherol

What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (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 Tocopherol

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.

Sodium Hyaluronate

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

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

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

What it does: Emulsion Stabilising

Community Rating: Disliked

This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.

It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.

Isohexadecane

What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.

Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.

Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.

Learn more about Isohexadecane

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 32.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

What it does:

Caprylhydroxamic Acid is a chelating agent.

Chelating agents help prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps prevent unwanted reactions and effects from using the product.

Caprylhydroxamic Acid is often used with natural antimicrobial products as an alternative to preservatives.

Learn more about Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.

Sorbitan Isostearate

What it does: Emulsifying

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer and cleaning agent. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.

As an emulsifier, Sorbitan Isostearate prevents oils and water from separating.

Due to its isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.

Learn more about Sorbitan Isostearate

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.

Propanediol

What it does: Solvent

Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Butylene Glycol

What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 40.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 47.

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.

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