The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution Versus Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum

The Ordinary Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution Versus Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum

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

This brightening serum is formulated around Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 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

Propanediol

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Propanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Water

Niacinamide

Butylene Glycol

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Glycerin

Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Squalane

Sodium Citrate

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Hydroxide

Citric Acid

Diheptyl Succinate

Tocopheryl Acetate

Xanthan Gum

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

Carbomer

Polysorbate 20

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract

Ethylhexylglycerin

Orchis Mascula Flower Extract

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Cananga Odorata Flower Extract

Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract

Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract

Glycine Soja Oil

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract

Rosa Gallica Flower Extract

Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract

Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract

Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Amyl Cinnamal

Cinnamyl Alcohol

Citronellol

Eugenol

Hydroxycitronellal

Water, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Squalane, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Diheptyl Succinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Orchis Mascula Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica Leaf/Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Amyl Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal

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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.

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one of the most popular "stable" vitamin C derivatives in skincare.

Plain ascorbic acid is fantastic but notoriously fragile; it browns, oxidizes, and loses potency fast. So attaching an ethyl group to the third carbon of the molecule gives it some cool perks:

In a formula, it does the 3 classic vitamin C jobs: it acts as an antioxidant, helps brighten skin tone by inhibiting tyrosinase, and supports collagen.

The evidence is reasonably solid for a cosmetic ingredient; Liao and colleagues (2018) showed it's significantly more stable than ascorbic acid while still being effective.

A 2021 study by Zerbinati and colleagues tested a serum with 30% 3-O-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid and 1% lactic acid significantly increased collagen production, reduced UVB-induced DNA damage, and decreased melanin on a reconstructed pigmented skin model.

Typical real world usage sits around 0.5-5% (and 1-2% is common for daily serums).

Amounts up to 30% have been shown to be non-irritating on human skin samples, but two isolated cases reported allergic contact dermatitis so a patch test is sensible if you have reactive skin.

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