Peter Thomas Roth Potent C Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer Versus Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer
Updated on October 06, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
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Ingredient Info
Peter Thomas Roth Potent C Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer 59 ingredients
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer 33 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
Peter Thomas Roth Potent C Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer 59 ingredients
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer 33 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Propanediol
Solvent
C9-12 Alkane
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Cetyl Palmitate
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Soy Acid
EmollientFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract
HumectantOlea Europaea Fruit Extract
BleachingHydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Elastin
Skin ConditioningZingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Wheat Amino Acids
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Sterols
Emollient
Saccharomyces Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Olus Oil
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingMyristic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Lactate
BufferingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningArachidic Acid
Cleansing
Lauric Acid
Cleansing
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
CleansingHistidine Hcl
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate
Emulsifying
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-3 Beeswax
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 15985
Cosmetic ColorantCI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Propanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Behenyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Oleic Acid, Soy Acid, Ferulic Acid, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Elastin, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Wheat Amino Acids, Glycine Soja Sterols, Saccharomyces Ferment, Jojoba Esters, Olus Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Gluconolactone, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Myristic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Lauroyl Lysine, Arachidic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Histidine Hcl, Carnosine, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Mica, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985, CI 19140
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate
Emollient
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Polyglycerin-6
HumectantPropanediol
Solvent
Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Xanthophylls
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMannitol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningIsododecane
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion Stabilising
Sodium Phytate
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol
UV AbsorberPolymethylsilsesquioxane
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Water, Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Polyglycerin-6, Propanediol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ergothioneine, Xanthophylls, Allantoin, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Crosspolymer, Mannitol, Pentylene Glycol, Isododecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Phytate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl P-Cresol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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.
Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolTetrahexyldecyl 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 AscorbateWater. 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 WaterIngredient Ratings
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Peter Thomas Roth Potent C Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer 59 ingredients
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer 33 ingredients
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Peter Thomas Roth Potent C Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer 59 ingredients
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