Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Formotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum versus SkinCeuticals C + AHA .
Last updated on December 18, 2023. Published on January 08, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens or silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Formotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum 17 ingredients
SkinCeuticals C + AHA 12 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Contains Sulfate
Ingredients in this product that are types of sulfate:
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Formotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum 17 ingredients
SkinCeuticals C + AHA 12 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Formotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum 17 ingredients
SkinCeuticals C + AHA 12 ingredients
Water • Glycolic Acid • Triethanolamine • Lactic Acid • Mandelic Acid • Citric Acid • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Glycerin • Propanediol • Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit Powder • Pentylene Glycol • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Phenoxyethanol • Xanthan Gum • Chlorphenesin • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterFormotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycolic Acid is arguably the most famous AHA with research to back up its benefits. Its main role is to peel the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Glycolic Acid has shown to boost collage production, a protein that helps skin stay firm. Overall, Glycolic Acid helps with improving uneven tone, rough patches of skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. It also increases skin hydration by playing a role in creating molecules that create hyaluronic acid naturally.
When applying Glycolic Acid, it is normal to feel slight stinging. The pH value and concentration of glycolic acid play a role in the effectiveness of the product.
Recent studies have shown Glycolic Acid may protect the skin against UV damage. However, you should always wear SPF, especially when using exfoliants.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Glycolic AcidFormotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 4.
Triethanolamine is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
Learn more about TriethanolamineFormotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 3.
Lactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidFormotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 8.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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.
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 look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidFormotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 7.
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 GlycerinFormotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 6.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
Formotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 9.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Formotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum 17 ingredients
SkinCeuticals C + AHA 12 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Formotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum 17 ingredients
SkinCeuticals C + AHA 12 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Formotopia BFFECT AHA 30% + Mandelic Acid 4% Serum.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to SkinCeuticals C + AHA.
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