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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% versus Kate Somerville MEGA-C™ 30% Vitamin C Brightening Mask .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on August 19, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 1 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, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens 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 Canadian Brand Canada
Wash Off Mask 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.

Wash Off Mask

Wash off masks are used to treat skin concerns: large pores, dryness, dullness, acne, and much more. They are applied preferably after cleansing (depending on the product’s instructions) and usually have to be removed within a specific time period.

Price

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

Vitamin C
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Acne Trigger

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Niacinamide
Ceramides

Benefits

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

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
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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: Antioxidant, Buffering, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C. This form makes up the largest amount of vitamin C found naturally in our skin.

Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, it also has plenty of benefits on your skin.

Vitamin C is best used for brightening skin. It improves dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. This is because it blocks the process of skin darkening when exposed to UV.

Remember: Vitamin C should not replace sunscreen!

Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen. Collagen is one key component in having a strong skin barrier and plump skin. Vitamin C also plays a role in regulating collagen, thus making it effective in improving wrinkles and fine lines.

Ascorbic acid shows potent antioxidant activity. As an antioxidant, it helps fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. These antioxidants also protect skin against UV damage.

The best formulations include Vitamin E and/or ferulic acid. These two ingredients help stabilize and provide a boost in the benefits of ascorbic acid. This is because ascorbic acid becomes unstable when exposed to UV and air. In fact, you can tell your ascorbic acid has oxidized when it turns an orange-yellow color.

Ascorbic acid is generally compatible with other ingredients. However, using ascorbic acid with other active ingredients might cause irritation. Two ingredients: copper ions and benzoyl peroxide, will inactivate ascorbic acid completely.

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.

Learn more about Ascorbic Acid

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% contains this as ingredient number 1.

Kate Somerville MEGA-C™ 30% Vitamin C Brightening Mask contains this as ingredient number 2.

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

27% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
40% are disliked or very disliked
33% have no rating yet
44% are loved or liked
8% have mixed ratings
36% are disliked or very disliked
12% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% 15 ingredients

2.3 /5
from 4 ratings
Irritating (1)
Yawnkun's avatar

Yawnkun

4 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

This Vitamin C is not for beginners. I got a chemical burn because of this and had to take a break with some actives to restore my skin barrier....

This Vitamin C is not for beginners. I got a chemical burn because of this and had to take a break with some actives to restore my skin barrier. Turns out that I still had to dilute it with another cream / moisturizer so that my skin doesn't get irritated. I think there are better Vitamin C products out there. I guess a good point of this Vitamin C is that you don't have to refrigerate it and it doesn't oxidize.

sameteamdwight's avatar

sameteamdwight

3 years ago · Dry Skin
Review

Grainy
The graininess of this feels unpleasant on my face so I'm moving on to a different product.

Kate Somerville MEGA-C™ 30% Vitamin C Brightening Mask 25 ingredients

MEGA-C™ 30% Vitamin C Brightening Mask hasn't been rated yet.
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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 2 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%.

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We haven't detected any alternatives for Kate Somerville MEGA-C™ 30% Vitamin C Brightening Mask.

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