e.l.f. cosmetics Vitamin C Serum Versus Sesderma C Vit 5 Liposomal Serum
Updated on August 20, 2024
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 dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances and 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
e.l.f. cosmetics Vitamin C Serum 17 ingredients
Sesderma C Vit 5 Liposomal Serum 41 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
e.l.f. cosmetics Vitamin C Serum 17 ingredients
Sesderma C Vit 5 Liposomal Serum 41 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
Humectant3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Punica Granatum Extract
AstringentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Coceth-7
EmulsifyingPPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
EmulsifyingPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Water, Ethoxydiglycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Punica Granatum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingPolymethyl Methacrylate
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCitral
Perfuming
Citronellyl Methylcrotonate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Disodium EDTA
Hydrochloric Acid
BufferingKappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSoluble Proteoglycan
Skin ConditioningSorbic Acid
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingWater, Glycerin, Phosphatidylcholine, Polymethyl Methacrylate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Benzoic Acid, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, CI 15985, Citral, Citronellyl Methylcrotonate, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Hydrochloric Acid, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Linalool, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cholate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Soluble Proteoglycan, Sorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethyl Citrate, Trisodium Ascorbyl Palmitate Phosphate, Xanthan Gum
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 WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinPropylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolTocopheryl 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 AcetateSodium 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 HyaluronateButylene 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.
Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is derived from castor oil and polyethylene glycol (PEG). It is used as a emollient and emulsifier.
As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps make the other ingredients more soluble; it is often used to solubilize fragrances. This increases spreadability and elongates shelf life in a product.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
This ingredient may or may not be vegan, depending on the source.
Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil may not be fungal-acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any questions or concerns.
Learn more about PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilDisodium 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 EDTACaprylyl 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
e.l.f. cosmetics Vitamin C Serum 17 ingredients
Sesderma C Vit 5 Liposomal Serum 41 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
e.l.f. cosmetics Vitamin C Serum 17 ingredients
I use it in the morning and love it for the hydration and skin conditioning effects
It's very light and hydrating. I use it in my morning routine and I love it.
