Live Tinted Superbright 15% Vitamin C Serum Stick Versus Kinui Tamanu Pure Oil Serum
Updated on February 10, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
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, parabens, silicones or sulfates
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
Live Tinted Superbright 15% Vitamin C Serum Stick 23 ingredients
Kinui Tamanu Pure Oil Serum 18 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Live Tinted Superbright 15% Vitamin C Serum Stick 23 ingredients
Kinui Tamanu Pure Oil Serum 18 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventCocoglycerides
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates Crosspolymer
AbsorbentButylene Glycol
Humectant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Emulsifying
Diisostearyl Malate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
Emulsifying
Cetearyl Olivate
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Sodium PCA
HumectantTocopherol
Antioxidant
Malic Acid
Buffering
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate
EmollientSodium Benzoate
Masking
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, C13-15 Alkane, Cocoglycerides, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Diisostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Cetearyl Olivate, Alpha-Arbutin, Citric Acid, Ferulic Acid, Sodium PCA, Tocopherol, Malic Acid, Gluconolactone, Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate, Sorbitan Olivate, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
C13-15 Alkane
SolventMacadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCalophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil
Antimicrobial
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Leuconostoc/Grape Juice Ferment Filtrate
HumectantSodium PCA
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Yeast Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Butylene Glycol, C13-15 Alkane, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Propylene Glycol, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Lactic Acid, Leuconostoc/Grape Juice Ferment Filtrate, Sodium PCA, Glycerin, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol
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 WaterTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateC13-15 Alkane is a group of alkanes with 13 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
It is a solvent and texture enhancer. Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
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.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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 even out skin tone.
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.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidSodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid. It is naturally occurring in our skin's natural moisturizing factors where it works to maintain hydration.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
This ingredient has skin conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATocopherol (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 TocopherolIngredient Ratings
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