Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum 20% Vitamin C + 10% AHA Versus Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum
This brightening serum is formulated around Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and Lactic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and refine skin texture.
This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBis-Glyceryl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Camellia Sinensis Leaf
Perfuming
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Antioxidant
Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCallicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Mume Fruit Extract
Humectant
Crataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice
Skin ConditioningCitrus Limon Juice
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantifolia Juice
CleansingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Root Extract
BleachingZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingPPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Crataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice, Citrus Limon Juice, Citrus Aurantifolia Juice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Glycerin
Humectant
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSqualane
Emollient
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
ChelatingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningOrchis Mascula Flower Extract
SoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cananga Odorata Flower Extract
Perfuming
Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract
AstringentEugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosa Gallica Flower Extract
AstringentCinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract
Masking
Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract
MaskingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Hydroxycitronellal
Perfuming
Water, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Diheptyl Succinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Orchis Mascula Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Amyl Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPyrus Malus Fruit Extract is extract from Apples. Apples are rich in Vitamin C, sugars, and antioxidants.
The sugar in Apples are humectants and help hydrate the skin. On top of that, apples also contain some acids, such as malic acid. These acids may have a mild exfoliating effect.
Last, the phytochemicals found in apples are strong antioxidants. These antioxidants help with anti-aging as they protect your skin cells against oxidative damage.
Learn more about Pyrus Malus Fruit ExtractSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
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.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
