Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum versus Barefaced Brightening Serum .
Published on January 17, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening 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.
Ingredient Info
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Barefaced Brightening Serum 27 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
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 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
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 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
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 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Barefaced Brightening Serum 27 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Barefaced Brightening Serum 27 ingredients
Water • Butylene Glycol • Propanediol • Ethylhexyl Olivate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Chlorogenic Acids • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Lauryl Lactate • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Ergothioneine • Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone • Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract • Carnosine • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract • Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract • Curcuma Longa Root Extract • Olea Europaea Fruit Extract • Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract • Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2 • Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract • Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract • Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract • Superoxide Dismutase • Ubiquinone • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Linoleic Acid • Linolenic Acid • Sea Whip Extract • Bisabolol • Tocopherol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Cholesterol • Phytosphingosine • Jojoba Esters • Sodium PCA • Pentylene Glycol • Methyl Gluceth-20 • Glycerin • Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax • Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax • Lecithin • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Dicetyl Phosphate • Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate • Polyglycerin-3 • Ceteth-20 Phosphate • Diisostearyl Malate • Xanthan Gum • Steareth-2 • Acacia Senegal Gum • Carbomer • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Dextran • Sodium Hydroxide • Citric Acid • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol
Water • Propanediol • Kojic Acid • Pentylene Glycol • Pterocarpus Marsupium Bark Extract • Alpha-Arbutin • Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate • Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Azelaic Acid • Tocopheryl Acetate • Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate • Pullulan • Xanthan Gum • Sclerotium Gum • Lecithin • Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate • Sodium Bisulfite • Glycerin • Ethylhexylglycerin • Silica • Phenoxyethanol • Sodium Benzoate • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Hydroxide • Tocopherol
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 WaterSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.
It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
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 TocopherolSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.
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 AcetateSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 42.
Barefaced Brightening 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 GlycerinSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 44.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of fatty acids. These fatty acids usually are a mixture of phosphoric acid's choline ester connected to stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids. Most lecithins are created from plant ingredients scuh as sunflower.
Lecithin is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin. The phospholipids in Lecithin can produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Learn more about LecithinSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 47.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
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 GumSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 54.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 60.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
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.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 63.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
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.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 64.
Barefaced Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Barefaced Brightening Serum 27 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Barefaced Brightening Serum 27 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
AideeCantu
Don’t like how it doesn’t spread easily on face
Used daily for three days and it made me itchy
Cut back to every other day and it made my...
Don’t like how it doesn’t spread easily on face
Used daily for three days and it made me itchy
Cut back to every other day and it made my cheeks red and warm; it ended up breaking my skin barrier
Barefaced Brightening Serum 27 ingredients
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