Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening 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 Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening versus Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US .

Last updated on November 03, 2023. Published on July 25, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, 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.

Try a different comparison

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

Serum American Brand United States

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

Shop

Buy Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening

Starts at $15.78

Shop

Buy C15 Super Booster

Starts at $55.00

Ingredient Info

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

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening 35 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

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening 35 ingredients

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster 21 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

PHA

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Niacinamide

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (3)

Reduces Irritation

Skin Texture (2)

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging (3)

Dark Spots (3)

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

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

Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

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

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening 35 ingredients

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster 21 ingredients

Water • Butylene Glycol • Niacinamide • Glycerin • Acetyl Glucosamine • Pentylene Glycol • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylyl Glycol • Carbomer • Disodium EDTA • Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate • Phenylethyl Resorcinol • Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract • Sodium Hydroxide • Chondrus Crispus Extract • Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate • 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid • CI 77492 • Tocopheryl Acetate • Phenoxyethanol • Collagen • Agar • Calcium Alginate • Xanthan Gum • Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract • Hydroxyacetophenone • Glucosyl Hesperidin • Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tropolone • Gluconolactone • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract • CI 73360 • Sodium Benzoate

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.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

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

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening contains this as ingredient number 1.

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

Butylene Glycol

What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening contains this as ingredient number 2.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 3.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening contains this as ingredient number 4.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 5.

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

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening contains this as ingredient number 6.

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

Sodium Hydroxide

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening contains this as ingredient number 14.

Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster US contains this as ingredient number 19.

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.

Physician's Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot Brightening contains this as ingredient number 20.

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

Sodium Hyaluronate

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved