PrescriptSkin Vitamin C Lifting Serum, Enhanced Brightening Gel Serum Versus TruSkin Vitamin C Super Serum+
Updated on February 08, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA, retinoid and Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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
PrescriptSkin Vitamin C Lifting Serum, Enhanced Brightening Gel Serum 31 ingredients
TruSkin Vitamin C Super Serum+ 17 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
PrescriptSkin Vitamin C Lifting Serum, Enhanced Brightening Gel Serum 31 ingredients
TruSkin Vitamin C Super Serum+ 17 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Elastin
EmollientAscorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPrunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Centifolia Flower Extract
AstringentRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Retinyl Palmitate
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Malic Acid
Buffering
Gluconic Acid
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Benzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Gluconic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citral, Limonene, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Dimethyl Sulfone
Solvent
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Squalane
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Arginine
Masking
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Masking
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf
Masking
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Equisetum Arvense Extract
AstringentGeranium Maculatum Extract
TonicCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Dimethyl Sulfone, Retinol, Squalane, Niacinamide, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Citrus Grandis Peel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 AcidCarbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidEthylhexylglycerin (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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
PrescriptSkin Vitamin C Lifting Serum, Enhanced Brightening Gel Serum 31 ingredients
TruSkin Vitamin C Super Serum+ 17 ingredients
