Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum Versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster - US

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US .

Last updated on November 03, 2023. Published on September 20, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 7 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, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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.

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Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

Serum Australian Brand

Facial Treatment American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum 18 ingredients

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster 21 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

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum 18 ingredients

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster 21 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Benefits

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Skin Texture

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Hyaluronic Acid

Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture

Anti-Aging (3)

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum 18 ingredients

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster 21 ingredients

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 • Ascorbic Acid • Butylene Glycol • Ethoxydiglycol • Glycerin • Ppg-26-Buteth-26 • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Pentylene Glycol • Tocopherol • Sodium Hyaluronate • Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate • Lecithin • Ferulic Acid • Panthenol • Bisabolol • Oryza Sativa Bran Extract • Propyl Gallate • Sodium Gluconate • Sodium Hydroxide • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin

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.

Water

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

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 1.

Ethoxydiglycol

What it does: Humectant, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

Ethoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.

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.

Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.

Learn more about Ethoxydiglycol

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 4.

Ascorbic Acid

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

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 2.

Pentylene Glycol

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 8.

Ferulic Acid

What it does: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant

Community Rating: Loved

Ferulic Acid is a plant based antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. Ferulic Acid can help reduce the formation of fine lines and hyperpigmentation.

When used with Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid has shown to prevent Vitamin C from breaking down. In other words, it acts as a stabilizer.

Ferulic Acid is sometimes used to preserve food. Foods containing Ferulic Acid include: oats, rice, eggplant, citrus.

In medicine, Ferulic Acid is being studied for helping with diabetes, Alzheimer's, and cardiovascular diseases.

Learn more about Ferulic Acid

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 13.

Panthenol

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

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 14.

Phenoxyethanol

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Mecca Cosmetica Skin Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 20.

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