Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil Versus SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum

This brightening oil is formulated around Squalane and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate to brighten dull-looking skin and hydrate skin.

This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and calm redness.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Squalane

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Pistacia Lentiscus Gum

Rosa Damascena Flower Extract

Geraniol

Citronellol

Squalane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Geraniol, Citronellol

Water

Butylene Glycol

Propanediol

Ethylhexyl Olivate

Cetearyl Alcohol

Chlorogenic Acids

Niacinamide

Lauryl Lactate

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Allyl Ester

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Ergothioneine

Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone

Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract

Carnosine

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Olea Europaea Fruit Extract

Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract

Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2

Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract

Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract

Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract

Superoxide Dismutase

Ubiquinone

Plankton Extract

Micrococcus Lysate

Arginine

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Ceramide NP

Ceramide AP

Ceramide EOP

Linoleic Acid

Linolenic Acid

Sea Whip Extract

Bisabolol

Tocopherol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Cholesterol

Phytosphingosine

Jojoba Esters

Sodium PCA

Pentylene Glycol

Methyl Gluceth-20

Glycerin

Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax

Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax

Lecithin

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Dicetyl Phosphate

Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate

Polyglycerin-3

Ceteth-20 Phosphate

Diisostearyl Malate

Xanthan Gum

Steareth-2

Acacia Senegal Gum

Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Carbomer

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Dextran

Ricinoleth-40

Sodium Hydroxide

Citric Acid

Sodium Phytate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chlorogenic Acids, Niacinamide, Lauryl Lactate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Allyl Ester, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ergothioneine, Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Carnosine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract, Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Ubiquinone, Plankton Extract, Micrococcus Lysate, Arginine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Sea Whip Extract, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Jojoba Esters, Sodium PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Lecithin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Dicetyl Phosphate, Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate, Polyglycerin-3, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Diisostearyl Malate, Xanthan Gum, Steareth-2, Acacia Senegal Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dextran, Ricinoleth-40, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD) is a stable and oil-soluble form of Vitamin C.

THD is special in that it has the ability to travel deeper into skin than traditional ascorbic acid while maintaining the same skin benefits (double win!).

Because it’s oil-soluble, THD dives deep into your skin’s fatty layers (think ceramides and cholesterol) to fight off the kind of free radicals that mess with your skin barrier. This makes it a great pair with water-based vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that mainly works on the surface.

Even at just 0.1%, THD is already showing great antioxidant activity. When used up to 2%, it helps keep your skin happy and calm, especially when it’s stressed from pollution or sun.

Want to fade dark spots or tackle hyperpigmentation? You’ll want 5% or more. Pairing it with brightening buddies like niacinamide or licorice root gives even better results. One study even used 30% THD with other brighteners and saw real results on stubborn discoloration, even in melasma-prone skin.

A note on THD: It’s has a slightly silky, oily texture and usually shows up colorless or pale yellow (though the exact shade can vary by supplier).

While you can sneak it into water-based formulas, it really shines when paired with silicones or oils, which help your skin soak it up better.

THD is pretty stable, but it’s still vulnerable to degradation like ascorbic acid. Too much light or heat (above 113°F / 45°C) can break it down over time. Go for dark and opaque packaging that keeps it safe and shady!

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

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