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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Tula Skincare Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum versus Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum .

Last updated on September 13, 2023. Published on April 29, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 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, parabens, silicones 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 Brand
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

Shop

Buy Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum

Starts at $56.00
Shop

Buy C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum

Starts at $78.00

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 (3)
Exfoliators

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing (3)
Skin Texture (4)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (4)
Scar Healing (4)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

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

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

Tula Skincare Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum 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

Tula Skincare Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.

3
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol

Tula Skincare Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 38.

4
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Tula Skincare Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 39.

5
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Tula Skincare Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.

6
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

Tula Skincare Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum contains this as ingredient number 32.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

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

53% are loved or liked
11% have mixed ratings
21% are disliked or very disliked
16% have no rating yet
45% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
23% are disliked or very disliked
15% 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

Tula Skincare Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum 38 ingredients

Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum 47 ingredients

2.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Doesn't Work (1) Irritating (1) Pilling (1) Sticky (1)
traceyy's avatar

traceyy

1 hour ago · Combination Skin
Review

WNRP -- this vitamin C was underwhelming. I could not bring myself to finish the entire bottle as it felt irritating on my skin compared to other...

WNRP -- this vitamin C was underwhelming. I could not bring myself to finish the entire bottle as it felt irritating on my skin compared to other vitamin C serums.

PrincezzJulie's avatar

PrincezzJulie

1 year ago · Combination Skin
Review

Oxidised
Must use within a month, else will oxidised and make my skin tone darker.

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