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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum versus Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream .

Last updated on July 12, 2023. Published on July 13, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain niacinamide and Vitamin C

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain 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 Australian Brand Australia
Day Moisturizer Australian Brand Australia

Serum

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

Day Moisturizer

Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.

Price

Shop

Buy Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum

Shop

Buy Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream

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

AHA
Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators
Niacinamide

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (3)
Skin Texture (3)
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (6)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Niacinamide

Benefits

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

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
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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

Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

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 Propanediol

Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 6.

3
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

Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 9.

4
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Loved

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide

Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.

5
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

Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.

Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.

6
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.

Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 24.

7
What it does: Emollient, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is the oil derived from the seeds of a Sunflower. Sunflower seed oil is non-fragrant. It is an emollient, meaning it helps to soften the skin.

Sunflower seed oil contains many fatty acids. The fatty acids found in sunflower seeds include (from highest amount to least): linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.

These fatty acids help the skin create ceramides. Ceramides play a role in repairing the skin barrier.

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil helps moisturize the skin. This in turn helps the skin look more rejuvenated and smoother.

Sunflowers are rich in vitamin E.

Historians believe Indigenous cultures of North America domesticated sunflowers before corn. Thus they relied on sunflower oil for a variety of uses. One such use is moisturizing skin and hair.

Sunflower seed oil may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 13.

8
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.

Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 22.

9
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

Swisse Beauty Vitamin C 10% Brightening Booster Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.

Swisse Vitamin C 5% Niacinamide 5% Brightening Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 21.

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

43% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
39% are disliked or very disliked
4% have no rating yet
35% are loved or liked
19% have mixed ratings
46% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet

Usage

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Alternatives

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