Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum Versus Numbuzin No.9 NAD Bio Lifting-Sil Full Face Mask
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
This anti-aging sheet mask is formulated around Niacinamide and Adenosine to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthoxydiglycol
HumectantAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Citric Acid
Buffering
Triethanolamine
BufferingBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Ascorbic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Ferulic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Glutathione, Citric Acid, Triethanolamine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin)
EmollientIsopentyldiol
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Trehalose
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingPropanediol
Solvent
Polylactic Acid
Abrasive
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment
Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Adenosine Triphosphate
Skin ConditioningNicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Skin ConditioningResveratrol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Pullulan
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Sodium Palmitoyl Sarcosinate
CleansingAstaxanthin
Skin Conditioning
Pisum Sativum Peptide
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Copper Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Nonapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Humectant
Acetyl Hexapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Sh-Pentapeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Alanine
Masking
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Dipeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-11
Skin Conditioning
Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Hexapeptide-16
Skin Conditioning
Myristoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Antioxidant
Nonapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-35
Antioxidant
Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-26
Skin Conditioning
Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23
Skin Conditioning
Octapeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12
Skin Conditioning
Pentapeptide-13
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8
Skin Conditioning
Tetrapeptide-44
Skin Conditioning
Tetrapeptide-30
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-10 Citrulline
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-32
Skin Conditioning
Tripeptide-29
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide
Skin Conditioning
Dextran
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin Protecting
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentGlucose
Humectant
Mannose
HumectantSh-Octapeptide-4
Antioxidant
Sh-Decapeptide-7
Antioxidant
Collagen
Moisturising
Elastin
Skin ConditioningGlutathione
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Oligopeptide-29
Antioxidant
Oligopeptide-32
Antiseborrhoeic
Sr-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Protecting
R-Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-9
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-11
Sh-Polypeptide-3
Skin Conditioning
Sh-Polypeptide-16
Skin Protecting
Sh-Polypeptide-62
Antioxidant
Methylpropanediol
SolventSorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantPvm/Ma Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSr-(Oligopeptide-91 Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1)
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Isopentyldiol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Carbomer, Arginine, Panthenol, Trehalose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Polylactic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Thioctic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Adenosine Triphosphate, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, Resveratrol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Pullulan, Ubiquinone, Sodium Palmitoyl Sarcosinate, Astaxanthin, Pisum Sativum Peptide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-9, Nonapeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Acetyl Sh-Pentapeptide-1, Alanine, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Dipeptide-4, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-12, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Myristoyl Hexapeptide-16, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-4, Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Nonapeptide-7, Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-35, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-26, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-23, Octapeptide-2, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Pentapeptide-13, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-29, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Tetrapeptide-44, Tetrapeptide-30, Tripeptide-10 Citrulline, Tripeptide-32, Tripeptide-29, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Arginine/Lysine Polypeptide, Dextran, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Soluble Collagen, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Glucose, Mannose, Sh-Octapeptide-4, Sh-Decapeptide-7, Collagen, Elastin, Glutathione, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Oligopeptide-29, Oligopeptide-32, Sr-Oligopeptide-1, R-Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-22, Sh-Oligopeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Sh-Polypeptide-9, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-11, Sh-Polypeptide-3, Sh-Polypeptide-16, Sh-Polypeptide-62, Methylpropanediol, Sorbitan Stearate, Allantoin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Sr-(Oligopeptide-91 Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1)
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glutathione is a tiny protein-like molecule (a "tripeptide" build from 3 amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid) that your body already makes on its own.
Inside your body, it acts as one of the skin's main antioxidants that help fight against free radicals.
In skincare, it's best known as a brightening ingredient that slows down tyrosinase, the key enzyme that makes skin pigment. It also nudges the skin toward making a lighter type of pigment instead of a darker one.
This is why you'll see it in products aimed at dark spots and uneven tone.
A small number of real human trials have found a topical glutathione lotion:
The honest caveat is that the current evidence is still thin (few studies, small groups, short timelines). Glutathione also doesn't absorb into skin very easily so results tend to be modest and fade if you stop using it.
One thing worth clearing up:
The scary side effects you may have heard about come from glutathione injected intravenously, which has real safety concerns. Applying it topically is a completely different thing and has a clean track record.
Most human studies used it around 2% (as Glutathione or Glutathione Disulfide) and a 2% oxidized glutathione lotion and a 2% S-acyl glutathione cream are the concentrations with actual clinical data behind them.
There's no established "ideal" percentage yet but 1-2% is the evidence-backed range.
Allergy-wise, there is very low risk for this ingredient; it was well-tolerated across the topical trials. Only one participant had mild temporary redness that cleared up on its own and another study reported no adverse reactions at all.
One trial had ~10% of users drop out for irritation was using a combination cream that also had 10% azelaic acid so the irritation likely wasn't from the glutathione. There's no notable contact-allergy signal for topical glutathione in the literature but patch-testing before first use is still sensible for those with sensitive skin.
Learn more about GlutathionePanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
