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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum versus COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum .

Last updated on July 12, 2023. Published on August 13, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, 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 need an update? Let us know.

Serum South Korean Brand South Korea
Serum South Korean Brand South Korea

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

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Buy Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum

Starts at $15.30
Shop

Buy The Vitamin C 13 Serum

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant 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

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening (2)

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (4)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating
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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.

1
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

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Liked

Tromethamine is an aliphatic compound. An aliphatic compound is an organic compound with open-chained carbon atoms. It is synthetically created. Tromethamine is used to balance pH and improve texture.

As an emulsifier, Tromethamine prevents oil and water ingredients from separating. This helps stabilize the product and elongate a product's shelf life. Tromethamine also makes a product thicker.

Tromethamine helps balance the pH level of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Oral Tromethanmine is an anti-inflammatory drug but plays the role of masking, adding fragrance, and/or balancing pH in skincare.

1,3-Propanediol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-

Learn more about Tromethamine

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.

Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.

Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.

In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.

Learn more about Adenosine

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

5
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium 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 EDTA

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

6
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Panthenol (also referred to as pro-vitamin B5) is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin.

lt is a humectant, meaning that it helps the skin attract and retain moisture.

Another benefit is the anti-inflammatory abilities. This means that it's great for sensitive, irritation-prone skin.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

Learn more about Panthenol

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

7
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

We don't have a description for Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract.

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.

8
What it does: Absorbent
Community Rating: Liked

Dextrin is used to thicken a product and helps bind ingredients together. It is created from starch and glycogen.

As an emulsifier, dextrin prevents ingredients from separating. This helps elongate a product's shelf life.

Studies show coating UV filters with dextrin prevents these ingredients from being absorbed. This helps UV ingredients last longer on the skin.

Learn more about Dextrin

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

9
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

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

76% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
6% are disliked or very disliked
6% have no rating yet
67% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
17% are disliked or very disliked
4% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum 17 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) Light (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
ChienYun_CY's avatar

ChienYun_CY

6 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

No irritation, no weird smell
I switched from Cosrx's Vitamin C 23 serum to this. I prefer this to Cosrx. It has no smell, no irritation and gentle...

No irritation, no weird smell
I switched from Cosrx's Vitamin C 23 serum to this. I prefer this to Cosrx. It has no smell, no irritation and gentle to my skin. If you are a fan of Cosrx Vitamin C serum (but loathe the smell), you may want to try this too.

BrittBrine's avatar

BrittBrine

5 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

This is my favorite vitamin c serum I've tried so far. It does sting a tiny bit if you have dry or irritated skin, but on healthy skin I don't feel...

This is my favorite vitamin c serum I've tried so far. It does sting a tiny bit if you have dry or irritated skin, but on healthy skin I don't feel a thing. It has made my skin look so healthy and glowy.

COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum 24 ingredients

The Vitamin C 13 Serum hasn't been rated yet.
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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum.

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