Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Moisturizing
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: low
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 2
Key actives
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Argan Oil hydrates and firms for a radiant, glowing complexion, while bioavailable vitamin C absorbs instantly into skin to diminish dark spots and fight pigmentation.
Source: Josie Maran
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: squalane, argania spinosa kernel oil.
Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).
A plant extract that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to reduce inflammation
An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
A green micro-algae extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin, but solid evidence is lacking. It helps to soften the upper layer of the skin
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture
An emollient that helps soften the skin
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
Argan Oil hydrates and firms for a radiant, glowing complexion, while bioavailable vitamin C absorbs instantly into skin to diminish dark spots and fight pigmentation.
Source: Josie Maran
This product contains ingredients (glycyrrhiza glabra root extract) that could help reduce hyperpigmentation (for example, post-acne marks or age spots) in theory, but there is not enough evidence that they actually work.
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
A potent antioxidant that is able to penetrate the skin barrier. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin, fight photodamage and reduce hyperpigmentation. It is, however, unstable and loses effectiveness when exposed to light. Effective products with phloretin must come in air-tight opaque packaging and use a sophisticated delivery technology
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Moisturizing | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 62/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Bright Skin Vitamin C Serum | Current | $66.00 | |
 Josie Maran Argan Bright Skin Vitamin C Serum | 52% | $66.00 | |
 African Botanics Vita-C Corrector | 50% | $130.00 |
Key Actives
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
A potent antioxidant that is able to penetrate the skin barrier. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin, fight photodamage and reduce hyperpigmentation. It is, however, unstable and loses effectiveness when exposed to light. Effective products with phloretin must come in air-tight opaque packaging and use a sophisticated delivery technology
An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties
A plant extract that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to reduce inflammation
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
Potential irritants
A plant extract that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to reduce inflammation
An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties
An emollient that helps soften the skin
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
Helps oil and water mix together
A potent antioxidant that is able to penetrate the skin barrier. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin, fight photodamage and reduce hyperpigmentation. It is, however, unstable and loses effectiveness when exposed to light. Effective products with phloretin must come in air-tight opaque packaging and use a sophisticated delivery technology
Comedogenic ingredients
An emollient that helps soften the skin
Helps oil and water mix together
All ingredients
An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties
An emollient that helps soften the skin
Used to dissolve other ingredients in a product and can enhance their ability to penetrate the skin
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
Helps oil and water mix together
A plant extract that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to reduce inflammation
A green micro-algae extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin, but solid evidence is lacking. It helps to soften the upper layer of the skin
A potent antioxidant that is able to penetrate the skin barrier. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin, fight photodamage and reduce hyperpigmentation. It is, however, unstable and loses effectiveness when exposed to light. Effective products with phloretin must come in air-tight opaque packaging and use a sophisticated delivery technology
Ingredient list view
Argania spinosa kernel oil, Coconut alkanes, Oleyl lactate, Octyldodecyl pca, Dimethyl isosorbide, Glyceryl oleate, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Isostearyl lactate, Coco-caprylate/caprate, Brassica campestris seed oil, Bisabolol, Squalane, Pterocarpus marsupium bark extract, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, Polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, Althaea officinalis root extract, Oryza sativa bran extract, Dunaliella salina extract, Olea europaea fruit water, Phloretin
- Natural vegetable fats in the prevention of irritant contact dermatitis
- Activity enhancement of ferulic acid with dimethyl isosorbride in cosmetic compositions
- Contact Sensitization to Emulsifying Agents: An Underrated Issue?
- Double-blind, half-face study comparing topical vitamin C and vehicle for rejuvenation of photodamage
- Application of tetra-isopalmitoyl ascorbic acid in cosmetic formulations: Stability studies and in vivo efficacy
- Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmetics
- α-(-)-Bisabolol Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Ameliorates Skin Inflammation
- Dunaliella salina alga extract inhibits the production of interleukin-6, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species by regulating nuclear factor-κB/Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription in virus-infected RAW264.7 cells
- Biochemical composition and bioactivity screening of various extracts from Dunaliella salina, a green microalga
- The antioxidant activity of phloretin: the disclosure of a new antioxidant pharmacophore in flavonoids
- Dermatological applications of the flavonoid phloretin
- Protective Effects of Topical Vitamin C Compound Mixtures against Ozone-Induced Damage in Human Skin - Supplementary Material