Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum versus Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate .

Published on May 24, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum Japanese Brand Japan
Serum French Brand France

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum

Starts at $121.25
Shop

Buy Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate

Starts at $29.50

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant 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

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E (2)
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening (4)

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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.

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.

1
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

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
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.

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 9.

4
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.

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 11.

5
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 10.

6
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 36.

7
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 15.

8
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Sodium Citrate helps maintain the pH of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

Sodium Citrate is a chelating agent. It neutralizes metal ions from water and prevents them from binding to other ingredients. This ensures the other ingredients will not be altered.

Learn more about Sodium Citrate

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 46.

9
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 34.

10
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 37.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

18% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
35% are disliked or very disliked
35% have no rating yet
33% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
16% are disliked or very disliked
37% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum 55 ingredients

Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate 49 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 3 ratings
pinmin's avatar

pinmin

8 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

IRRITATION
i got this as a sample when i bought a clarins lip oil and WHEN I TELL YOU my skin was burning within minutes of applying. i immediately...

IRRITATION
i got this as a sample when i bought a clarins lip oil and WHEN I TELL YOU my skin was burning within minutes of applying. i immediately washed it off but didn’t manage to save myself from the horrible red rash and peeling it left behind. i have relatively sensitive skin but i have never had a reaction this bad to a product - don’t know if i’m allergic to something in it or if it’s just incredibly irritating to sensitive skin

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 12 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Shiseido Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum.

See 12 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate.

See 50 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...