Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Max Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum versus L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum .
Published on February 09, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
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 or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Max Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum 26 ingredients
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum 39 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
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 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not 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:
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
Max Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum 26 ingredients
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum 39 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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 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 2 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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 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:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
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:
Notable Ingredients
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 2 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 2 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:
This product contains 2 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 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Max Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum 26 ingredients
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum 39 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Propanediol • Niacinamide • Mannitol • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Cellulose • 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid • Hydroxyacetophenone • Polysorbate 80 • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylyl Glycol • Xanthan Gum • Carbomer • Sodium Hyaluronate • Parfum • Polysorbate 60 • Sorbitan Isostearate • Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer • Tocopheryl Acetate • Triethyl Citrate • Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose • Simethicone • CI 77499 • CI 77015 • CI 77891
Water • Glycerin • Alcohol • Dipropylene Glycol • Butylene Glycol • Peg/Ppg/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin • Niacinamide • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane • Glycolic Acid • 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid • Isononyl Isononanoate • Linalool • Geraniol • Sorbitan Isostearate • Eugenol • Parfum • Salicylic Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Phenoxyethanol • Phenylethyl Resorcinol • Adenosine • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Disodium EDTA • Limonene • Tocopherol • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Citric Acid • Citronellol • Xanthan Gum • Acetyl Trifluoromethylphenyl Valylglycine • Oxothiazolidinecarboxylic Acid • Polysorbate 60 • Hexyl Cinnamal • 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 WaterMax Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinMax Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
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 NiacinamideMax Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
This is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Max Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.
You might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidMax Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumMax Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.
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 HyaluronateMax Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
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 ParfumMax Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Max Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.
Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer and cleaning agent. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.
As an emulsifier, Sorbitan Isostearate prevents oils and water from separating.
Due to its isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.
Learn more about Sorbitan IsostearateMax Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateMax Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Max Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum 26 ingredients
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum 39 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Max Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum 26 ingredients
L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum 39 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Max Factor X Miracle Pure Vitamin C Skin-Illuminating Serum.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to L'Oreal Glycolic Bright Instant Glowing Face Serum.
See 50 alternatives
