Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles Versus BIOTHERM Life Plankton Elixir Anti-Aging Serum
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 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, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens 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
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
BIOTHERM Life Plankton Elixir Anti-Aging Serum 26 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
BIOTHERM Life Plankton Elixir Anti-Aging Serum 26 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingGlycerin
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningVitreoscilla Ferment
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Octyldodecanol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingVitreoscilla Ferment
Skin ConditioningAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
Ethylenediamine
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Parfum
Masking
Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Ethylenediamine, Pentylene Glycol, Faex Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Tocopherol, Parfum
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 WaterWe don't have a description for Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid yet.
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 GlycerinSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxidePhenoxyethanol 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.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideCaprylyl 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 GlycolVitreoscilla Ferment is a probiotic derived from the Vitreoscilla bacteria.
Studies show Vitreoscilla Ferment to have the same benefits as ingesting probiotics. Probiotics help keep the bacteria in your body healthy.
In general, maintaining a healthy microbiome on your skin has many benefits. One benefit is protection against external and bad bacteria. A healthy microbiome also helps maintain skin hydration and reduce inflammation.
Probiotics work best when combined with prebiotics.
Learn more about Vitreoscilla FermentXanthan 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 GumPentylene 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 also help thicken or stabilize a product.
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 GlycolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
BIOTHERM Life Plankton Elixir Anti-Aging Serum 26 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Vichy Liftactiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles 20 ingredients
Works for dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Lightweight. Oily and sensitive skin can use! (unless you’re sensitive to niacinamide and glycolic acid)
Okayish
-tad bit sticky but that’s okay for my dry skin
- gave me no breakouts so that’s good
- hoping will brighten up my dull skin (been using for a week)
