Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum versus Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum .
Published on September 01, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, 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 oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols and fragrances
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
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum 35 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
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 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum 35 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
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.
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum 35 ingredients
Water • Alcohol Denat. • Niacinamide • Glycerin • Propanediol • Sodium Hydroxide • Charcoal Powder • Hydroxyacetophenone • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • Hydroxypropyl Guar • Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside • Citric Acid • Lactic Acid • Phytic Acid • Polyglycerin-10 • Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate • Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate • Sodium Dehydroacetate • Salicylic Acid • CI 17200 • CI 19140 • CI 42090 • Parfum
Water • Glycerin • Alcohol • Dipropylene Glycol • Butylene Glycol • Peg-7 • Niacinamide • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane • 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid • Isononyl Isononanoate • BHA • Linalool • Geraniol • Parfum • Salicylic Acid • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Phenoxyethanol • Phenylethyl Resorcinol • Adenosine • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Disodium EDTA • Limonene • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Citric Acid • Citrus Limon Fruit Extract • Citrus Junos Fruit Extract • Xanthan Gum • Maltodextrin • Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine • Oxothiazolidinecarboxylic Acid • Benzyl Salicylate • Benzyl Alcohol
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 WaterGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Niacinamide 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 NiacinamideGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum 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 GlycerinGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
We don't have a description for Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid.
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum 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 AcidGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, 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.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term '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. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.
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 ParfumGarnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum 35 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum 35 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Garnier Pure Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Serum 23 ingredients
Garnier Light Complete Vitamin C Serum 35 ingredients
horaceon
broke out my oily acne-prone face. the cream version is better when getting rid of dark spots; i suggest never to use vit c with fresh acne.
Isya
[Oily skin] This product breaks me out so bad even though I do not have acne-prone skin. It only takes around a few days for me to stop using it.
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