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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum versus La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum .

Last updated on March 21, 2024. Published on May 15, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens 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 American Brand United States
Serum French Brand France

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

Shop

Buy Vitamin C Serum

Starts at $45.00
Shop

Buy 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum

Starts at $44.99

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
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

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

Concerns

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

BHA
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid (2)
Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (4)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (4)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (4)
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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: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene 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 deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.

2
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

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

3
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

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium 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 Hyaluronate

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

5
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl 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 Glycol

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.

La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.

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

67% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
33% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
50% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
46% 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

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum 12 ingredients

2.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Doesn't Work (1)
SiriMiri's avatar

SiriMiri

5 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

This says it's fungal acne safe but on the website the ingredients says it has castor oil extract or something in here, personally I avoid anything...

This says it's fungal acne safe but on the website the ingredients says it has castor oil extract or something in here, personally I avoid anything with castor oil so beware.

DamDamfino's avatar

DamDamfino

3 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

Its been a few years, but from what I remember, I got this as a "only affordable option available at the store" when I ran out of Vit C serum and...

Its been a few years, but from what I remember, I got this as a "only affordable option available at the store" when I ran out of Vit C serum and needed more - and I did not like this.
Felt like a waste of money. It didn't really do anything, I didn't see my usual results.
It also, oddly, did not oxidize...for like more than a year, as long as it took me to finish the bottle. That's weird to me. I know most Vit C serums are going to oxidize eventually, so the fact that this one didn't seemed fishy to me.

La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum 24 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 6 ratings
Lapaki's avatar

Lapaki

1 year ago · Dry Skin
Review

This was my first vitamin C serum
I started using this because I was curious about Vitamin C and wanted to experience its benefits. This is a...

This was my first vitamin C serum
I started using this because I was curious about Vitamin C and wanted to experience its benefits. This is a really good and gentle Vitamin C serum for sensitive skin. Mine got used to it and now tolerates stronger products.

Cashmaire_08's avatar

Cashmaire_08

3 years ago · Combination Skin
Review

So far so good.
I have sensitive skin and this doesn't sting at all.

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