Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum Versus Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Targeted Spot Brightener
Updated on July 23, 2024
Overview
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain silicones
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
Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum 25 ingredients
Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Targeted Spot Brightener 26 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum 25 ingredients
Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Targeted Spot Brightener 26 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Squalane
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBeta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Limonene
Perfuming
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Elaeis Guineensis Oil
Emollient
Tocotrienols
Skin ConditioningLinalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citral
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylyl Methicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Squalane, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Ferulic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Beta-Glucan, Parfum, Sorbitol, Limonene, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Disodium EDTA, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Tocotrienols, Linalool, Tocopherol, Citral, Citronellol
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
PEG-8 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Isopropyl Palmitate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Ceteareth-20
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningDictyopteris Polypodioides Extract
EmollientCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
Potassium Bitartrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, PEG-8 Beeswax, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ferulic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Dictyopteris Polypodioides Extract, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Potassium Bitartrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.
THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).
Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.
Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.
Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.
A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).
While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.
THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateFerulic Acid is a plant based antioxidant. By fighting free-radicals, 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 AcidDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAIngredient Ratings
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When to use
Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum 25 ingredients
Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Targeted Spot Brightener 26 ingredients
