TheActives Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 10% Serum Versus For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Vitamin C Serum
Updated on February 19, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin C
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing 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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
TheActives Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 10% Serum 10 ingredients
For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Vitamin C Serum 22 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
TheActives Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 10% Serum 10 ingredients
For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Vitamin C Serum 22 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Triethanolamine
BufferingFerulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract
Emulsion Stabilising
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTranexamic Acid
Astringent
Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-22
Bleaching
Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-22
Skin Conditioning
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Bisulfite
Antioxidant
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Triethanolamine, Ferulic Acid, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactobacillus/Lemon Peel Ferment Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tranexamic Acid, Tranexamoyl Dipeptide-22, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-22, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Bisulfite
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterYou might know this ingredient as Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a more stable version of ascorbic acid.
Like other types of vitamin C, this ingredient has many benefits including reducing wrinkles, skin soothing, dark spot fading, and fighting against free radicals.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid interferes with the process of skin darkening, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation. It also encourages the skin to produce more collagen.
Once applied, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is converted to Vitamin C deeper in the skin's layers. This process is slow but makes this ingredient more tolerable for skin.
The optimum pH range for this ingredient is 4 - 5.5
Learn more about 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidGlycerin 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 GlycerinEthoxydiglycol is a synthetic solvent.
Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.
Ethoxydiglycol also helps deliver other key ingredients into the skin.
Learn more about EthoxydiglycolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolAllantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.
Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent 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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
TheActives Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 10% Serum 10 ingredients
For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Vitamin C Serum 22 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
TheActives Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 10% Serum 10 ingredients
For Skin’s Sake (FSS) Vitamin C Serum 22 ingredients
serum yg cukup works di kulitku yg sering banget kusam. aku pakai sekitar sebulanan dan hasilnya cukup ok ya untuk mencerahkan. kalo utk memudarkan dark spot aku rasa belum ada perubahan yg signifikan. nggak bikin kulitku makin kering. teksturnya lumayan cair jd cepet meresapnya, cuman memang baunya cukup asem gitu ya, tapi setelah di apply dan meresap hilang & gak berbau lagi kok. repurchase ? Show more
The most perfect vitamin C serum I've ever tried, concentration aside. Serum Vitamin C yang sekali coba pakai, enggak bisa ditinggal lagi. Pernah coba ganti serum vitamin C lain, flek-flek langsung bermunculan dan menebal. Begitu balik lagi pakai produk ini, flek yang baru-baru muncul itu langsung menipis. Ada serum vitamin C lain lagi yang juga oke tapi teksturnya sangat lengket; sedangkan serum Show more
