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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum versus NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum .

Published on August 26, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 11 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid, peptides, retinoid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

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 harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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.

Serum South Korean Brand South Korea
Serum American Brand United States

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

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Buy Vitamin C Brightening Serum

Starts at $17.79
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Buy Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum

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

Retinoid
Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E (2)
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid (4)
Peptides (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture (3)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (5)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing (4)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (7)

Concerns

Irritating
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid
Peptides (3)

Benefits

Hydrating (5)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (2)
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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.

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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

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum 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

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.

3
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Bifida Ferment Lysate is derived from the fermentation of Bifida bacteria (often with dairy). It is a probiotic and helps to strengthen our skin's microbiome.

Having a healthy microbiome helps protect our skin against infection. It also helps our skin stay hydrated and healthy.

Studies also show this ingredient to be a promising soothing ingredient for sensitive skin.

Learn more about Bifida Ferment Lysate

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.

5
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Collagen is the most abundant type of structural protein found in your body. In your skin, it is responsible for keeping it firm and youthful.

Hydrolyzed Collagen means it has been broken down into smaller particles. This helps the body process hydrolyzed collagen better.

Your body uses collagen for a variety of tasks. These tasks include repairing and maintaning tissues, helping cells communicate, and helping your body’s immune system respond to attacks.

Collagen is comprised mostly of glycine, proline, and hydroxypoline. These are amino acids.

Collagen can be used in the morning or night. It will not increase sun sensitivity, but you should always wear sunscreen during the day.

Learn more about Hydrolyzed Collagen

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.

6
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.

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

7
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (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.

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 44.

8
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.

As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.

Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.

The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.

Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Polysorbate 20

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 39.

9
What it does: Antiseborrhoeic, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Biotin is a B vitamin that is naturally produced by our bodies. It is also called Vitamin H.

Our bodies use biotin in the metabolism process. It also helps our bodies use enzymes and move nutrients around. A biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair and nails.

More research is needed on applying biotin topically. However, taking biotin orally has been shown to help nourish the skin, hair, and nails. They play a role in forming skin-hydrating fatty acids.

Biotin is water-soluble. It can be found in foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, and meat. Vitamin H stands for "haar" and "haut". These are the German words for hair and skin.

We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any questions or concerns about this ingredient.

Learn more about Biotin

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 41.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

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

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 53.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.

11
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Gum

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 55.

NourishMax Youth Recovery & Blemish Defense Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.

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

71% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
7% are disliked or very disliked
9% have no rating yet
44% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
29% are disliked or very disliked
11% have no rating yet

Usage

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