Works for
ExfoliationLactic acid, AllantoinWorks well
“Also, works well on slight exfoliation effects to remove dead skin cells, diminishing scar-marks and reduce formation of acne prone and blackheads.”
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: lactic acid.
MoisturizingLactic acid, Glycerin + 5 moreWorks
“Restore skin hydration by applying Soothing Gel.”
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": allantoin, glycerin.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
Anti-blemishAloe barbadensis leaf juice, Allantoin + 1 moreNot delivered
“Vital Serum For Blackheads”
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
Evens skin toneSide benefit the brand mentions · Lactic acid, Camellia sinensis leaf extractWorks well
“Also, works well on slight exfoliation effects to remove dead skin cells, diminishing scar-marks and reduce formation of acne prone and blackheads.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: lactic acid
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Anti-agingSide benefit · Lactic acid, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice + 1 moreMay help
This product contains lactic acid. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Achillea millefolium extract + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Butylene glycol~23–34%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolLactic acid~5.5–8.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An exfoliating and moisturizing alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Typically causes less irritation than other AHAs, for example, glycolic acid. At high concentrations (about 15%), lactic acid can help reduce lines and wrinkles. Recent studies show that lactic acid can support the "good" bacteria living on skin's surface (healthy skin microbiome)
More about Lactic acidAloe barbadensis leaf juice~4.3–6.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceGlycerin~3.3–5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinAllantoin~2.4–3.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinMelaleuca alternifolia leaf oil~1.6–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties
More about Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oilDisodium edta~0.5–1%
Sodium lactate~0.9–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the product
More about Sodium lactatePeg-7 glyceryl cocoate~0.5–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oils and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent
More about Peg-7 glyceryl cocoateAchillea millefolium extract~0.45–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Plant extract that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. Can be used as a fragrance. Can be irritating
More about Achillea millefolium extractHamamelis virginiana leaf extract~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana leaf extractCamellia sinensis leaf extract~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractIngredient list view
Butylene glycol, Lactic acid, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Glycerin, Allantoin, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Disodium edta, Sodium lactate, Peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, Achillea millefolium extract, Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| CS12Vital Serum For BlackheadsYOUR PRODUCT | Erno LaszloFirmarine Face Serum | ZO Skin HealthExfoliation Accelerator | Shani Darden Skin CareLactic Acid Exfoliating Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 68% | 66% | 64% |
| Price | — | $44.00 | $70.00 | $72.16 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | Retinyl Palmitate | Retinyl Palmitate | Gluconolactone |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Paula's choice Resist Anti-Aging Advanced Smoothing Treatment AHA Full sizeBella Brighton Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Product summary
"CS12 - Vital Serum For Blackheads" is effective for: Evens skin tone and Exfoliation
This product could be helpful for: Anti-aging and Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Exfoliating acids (lactic acid 5.20% - 7.80%). In this concentration, they will have a noticeable exfoliating effect. They can also have an anti-aging effect and stimulate collagen production in a long-run. Lactic Acid can also help to attract water to the upper layer (works as a humectant).
- In addition, this product contains Allantoin (2.50% - 3.70%). Allantoin is helpful in wound-healing and can help restore the skin barrier faster. It might also be able to improve scars, but the evidence is not very strong for this.
- Humectants (sodium lactate 0.95% - 1.40%, allantoin 2.50% - 3.70%, glycerin 3.30% - 5.00% and lactic acid 5.20% - 7.80%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 68.20$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 5 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Epidermal and dermal effects of topical lactic acidncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skinpdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 3
- 4
- 5
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