Updated on January 14, 2025
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 Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, oils, 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
Minimalist Vitamin C 10% 17 ingredients
Lakme 9 To 5 Vitamin C+ Serum 22 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Minimalist Vitamin C 10% 17 ingredients
Lakme 9 To 5 Vitamin C+ Serum 22 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Centella Asiatica Leaf Water
Skin Conditioning
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pullulan
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Acrylates Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningPEG-4 Laurate
Emulsifying
PEG-4 Dilaurate
Emulsifying
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Polyethylene
Abrasive
Glycol
Humectant
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Glycerin, Sodium Gluconate, PEG-4 Laurate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Polyethylene, Glycol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Citral
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidGlycerin 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 GlycerinThis is the synthetic salt of gluconic acid, a form of PHA and mild exfoliant.
It is mainly used to stabilize oil and butter formulations from going bad. Sodium gluconate is a humectant, pH regulator, and chelating agent.
Chelating agents help neutralize unwanted metals from affecting the formulation.
Sodium gluconate is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium GluconatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Minimalist Vitamin C 10% 17 ingredients
Lakme 9 To 5 Vitamin C+ Serum 22 ingredients
