SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum Versus SkinCeuticals C + AHA

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum versus SkinCeuticals C + AHA .

Published on July 28, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin C

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for 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 or silicones

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

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SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum

SkinCeuticals C + AHA

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 Alto Defense Serum

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Buy C + AHA

Starts at $145.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients

SkinCeuticals C + AHA 12 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

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients

SkinCeuticals C + AHA 12 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Vitamin E (2)

Ceramides (3)

Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (7)

Redness Reducing (6)

Reduces Irritation (5)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging (7)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)

Acne Trigger (2)

Irritating

Notable Ingredients

AHA (3)

Vitamin C

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing

Skin Texture (4)

Reduces Large Pores (3)

Anti-Aging (3)

Dark Spots (3)

Scar Healing (4)

Brightening (5)

Concerns

Irritating (3)

Rosacea (3)

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients

SkinCeuticals C + AHA 12 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 • Ascorbic Acid • Triethanolamine • Glycolic Acid • Propylene Glycol • Glycerin • Citric Acid • Lactic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Zinc Sulfate • Disodium EDTA • Sodium Hyaluronate

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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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.

Water

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

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

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

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 44.

SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 6.

Citric Acid

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

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 61.

SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 7.

Disodium EDTA

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

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 62.

SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 11.

Phenoxyethanol

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.

SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 64.

SkinCeuticals C + AHA contains this as ingredient number 9.

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