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Prequel Lucent-C Brightening Vitamin C Serum Versus The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone

Serum
Serum
American Brand United States
Canadian Brand Canada

Updated on December 13, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 1 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin C

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens 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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Antioxidant, Buffering, Masking

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

When to use

236 Routines
92% use in am
8% use in pm
89% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
178 Routines
56% use in am
44% use in pm
84% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Prequel Lucent-C Brightening Vitamin C Serum 14 ingredients

3.4 /5
from 9 ratings
Great Value (6) Absorbs Well (5) Strong Scent (5)
brookefowler's avatar

Brooke Fowler

6 months ago
Review

When I first got into skincare years ago, I tried the extremely expensive ce ferulic everyone knows and, though I loved it and it made a big difference in my skin, I couldn’t justify the price for what ended up being half a bottle before it oxidized. All other vitamin c just irritated my skin so I gave up on it. I had a reoccurrence of my acne recently and remembered that this product had been a Show more

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#strong scent
ClaireEstelle's avatar

Claire L.

6 months ago
Review

I really like this Vitamin C serum and have noticed an improvement in some of my dark spots. The serum is packaged in opaque glass to protect it from UV. I don't like the pump very much as the formula is very liquid and it shoots out fast - something to be aware of. It also has to go on first (before other serums) as things can pill on top of it. However, for the price and effectiveness, I'm Show more

#great value
#absorbs well
#light scent

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone 4 ingredients

2.0 /5
from 6 ratings
Pilling (3) Drying (3) Irritating (3)
laila.21's avatar

Laila

1 year ago
Review

The way this mf stings is absolutely insane.
Pilling, drying, irritating, doesn’t work, and literally every bad thing you can say about a product.
0/10

#drying
#broke me out
#irritating
#pilling
JustDaniel_50's avatar

JustDaniel_50

1 year ago
Review

Honestly want to give it more of a 3.5, but rounded up to be generous. Have seen good results using it so far, mainly with skin brightening, but dislike the fact that it's basically up to a coin toss whether or not it decides to properly absorb in the skin or pills/dries/sits on top of the skin.

#drying
#pilling
#no scent
#works well