Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum versus Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum .
Published on May 31, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan and reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide and Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any oils, 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.
Price
Ingredient Info
Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum 24 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum 38 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum 24 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum 38 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum 24 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum 38 ingredients
Water • Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate • Niacinamide • Sodium Hyaluronate • Pentylene Glycol • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Sodium PCA • Thioctic Acid • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Rosa Canina Fruit Extract • Arginine • Taurine • Ascorbic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Polysorbate 80 • Xanthan Gum • Carbomer • Triethanolamine • Tetrasodium EDTA • Sodium Benzoate • Chlorphenesin
Water • Glycerin • 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid • Niacinamide • Glycereth-7 Triacetate • Lactic Acid • Sd Alcohol 40-B • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Ascorbic Acid • Collagen Amino Acids • Superoxide Dismutase • Glycine • Carnitine Hcl • Ubiquinone • Hexylresorcinol • Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Isoquercetin • Mandelic Acid • Pueraria Lobata Root Extract • Curcuma Longa Root Extract • Phytic Acid • Citric Acid • Tetrasodium EDTA • Sodium Citrate • Butylene Glycol • Xanthan Gum • Polysorbate 20 • T-Butyl Alcohol • Sodium Hydroxide • Polysorbate 80 • Denatonium Benzoate • Benzyl Alcohol • Phenoxyethanol • Sodium Benzoate • Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterPure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamidePure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
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 GlycerinPure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
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.
Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.
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 AcidPure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
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.
Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.
Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant and emulsifier. It is used to keep ingredients together, and prevent oils and waters from separating.
It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid. This ingredient can be found in cosmetics, foods, and medicine. It is water-soluble.
Polysorbate 80 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 80Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 33.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumPure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.
Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.
Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.
Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoatePure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum 24 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum 38 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Pure Choice Brightening Vitamin C Serum 24 ingredients
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum 38 ingredients
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