Biossance Squalane + 10% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum Versus KORA Organics Noni Bright 12% Vitamin C Serum

Biossance Squalane + 10% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum Versus KORA Organics Noni Bright 12% Vitamin C Serum

This brightening serum is formulated around 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Squalane to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.

This brightening serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Glycerin

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Squalane

Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Citric Acid

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Acacia Senegal Gum

Xanthan Gum

Sodium Gluconate

Sodium Citrate

Phenoxyethanol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Water, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Lactobacillus Ferment

Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment

Potassium Hydroxide

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract

Lactobacillus

Citrus Limon Peel Extract

Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Olea Europaea Leaf Extract

Zinc PCA

Lysolecithin

Sclerotium Gum

Pullulan

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Ascorbic Acid

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Salvia Sclarea Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Phytate

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Salicylate

Euterpe Oleracea Juice

Tocopherol

Silica

Maltodextrin

Alcohol

Glycine Soja Oil

Quartz

Citral

Limonene

Linalool

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Potassium Hydroxide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Zinc PCA, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Salicylate, Euterpe Oleracea Juice, Tocopherol, Silica, Maltodextrin, Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Quartz, Citral, Limonene, Linalool

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

Glycerin (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.

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. Remember to stay hydrated!

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.

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