Sesderma K-Vit Gel Versus laCabine Vit-C Serum
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Phosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingCyclopentasiloxane
Emollient
Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Camphanediol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Decyl Glucoside
Cleansing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGinkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingHydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein
Skin ConditioningMethylsilanol Mannuronate
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Phytonadione Epoxide
AstringentPinanediol
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Cholate
Skin ConditioningSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbic Acid
Preservative
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Phosphatidylcholine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Camphanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Protein, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Phytonadione Epoxide, Pinanediol, Polysilicone-11, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cholate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Superoxide Dismutase
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientLecithin
Emollient
Polyacrylate-13
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyisobutene
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Triethanolamine
BufferingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingWater, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycosaminoglycans, Lecithin, Polyacrylate-13, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethanolamine, Benzoic Acid, Triethylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
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.
Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, water-soluble emulsifier and mild surfactant. It stops oil and water from separating to keep your formulas blended and stable.
It also acts as a mild penetration enhancer by helping active ingredients absorb slightly better.
The common safety discussion around this ingredient involves a manufacturing byproduct called 1,4-dioxane.
Trace amounts can form during production but the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has concluded that levels at/below 10 ppm in finished products are safe (commercial products consistently fall within acceptable margins).
True allergic reactions are uncommon and the CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be safe as used in cosmetics.
Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.
As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.
The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.
True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).
It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.
Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
