What's In My Jar
Obagi Professional-C Serum 15% Strength
Obagi

Obagi Professional-C Serum 15% Strength

Efficacy100/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Anti-aging
Ascorbic acid, Ascorbyl glucoside
Works well
What the product description says
“vitamin C. This ingredient also promotes natural collagen production to plump skin and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Source: SkincareRX

This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains ascorbic acid.

These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: ascorbyl glucoside.

Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.

Ascorbic acidHeroEffect: HighThe most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging~5.3–7.9%
Ascorbyl glucosideKey activeEffect: MediumA vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products~1.6–2.4%
Evens skin tone
Ascorbic acid, Ascorbyl glucoside
Works well
What the product description says
“Adding this serum to your routine will promote a more even skin tone and an overall brighter complexion.”
Source: SkincareRX

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: ascorbic acid.

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: ascorbyl glucoside.

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.

Ascorbic acidHeroEffect: HighThe most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging~5.3–7.9%
Ascorbyl glucosideKey activeEffect: MediumA vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products~1.6–2.4%
Anti-oxidation
Ascorbic acid, Ascorbyl glucoside
Works well

This product contains antioxidants (ascorbic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).

The following ingredients - ascorbyl glucoside also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.

Ascorbic acidHeroEffect: HighThe most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging~5.3–7.9%
Ascorbyl glucosideKey activeEffect: MediumA vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products~1.6–2.4%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Alcohol, Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 5 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~23–35%est.
Ascorbic acidThe most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of agingHigh~5.3–7.9%est.
AlcoholCan be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial propertiesHigh~2.8–4.2%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.4–0.9%est.
Ascorbyl glucosideA vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in productsMedium~1.6–2.4%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged
Alternatives
The closest match we found
All Day Vitamin Pure C 5.5 Glow Serum
JUMISO All Day Vitamin Pure C 5.5 Glow Serum
Closest match97% match
$6.84
View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Propylene glycol~23–35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating

More about Propylene glycol
Water~13–19%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Ascorbic acid~5.3–7.9%
Hero · Anti-aging, Anti-oxidation, Evens skin toneIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-agingEvens skin tone

The most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging

More about Ascorbic acid
Alcohol~2.8–4.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties

More about Alcohol
Ascorbyl glucoside~1.6–2.4%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidationEvens skin toneAnti-aging

A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products

More about Ascorbyl glucoside
Parfum~0.4–0.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Ingredient list view

Propylene glycol, Water, Ascorbic acid, Alcohol, Ascorbyl glucoside, Parfum

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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.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
ObagiProfessional-C Serum 15% StrengthYOUR PRODUCTJUMISOAll Day Vitamin Pure C 5.5 Glow SerumInstitut EsthedermIntensive Vitamin C Dual Concentrate Brightening Booster-SerumAesthetics RxVitamin C Serum 23%
Match—97%96%93%
Price—$6.84$48.79$85.09
Shared key ingredients—2 of 22 of 21 of 2
Key difference—Alpha-ArbutinCaprylic/Capric TriglycerideFerulic Acid
Irritancy Medium Low Medium Medium
Drying alcohol Contains drying alcohol ———
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More alternatives: Isdinceutics Flavo-C SerumFormulyst Active Serum – Vitamin B, C, E, Ferulic + Niacinamide

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 5 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  4. 4
    The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Healthncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. 5
    Stability, transdermal penetration, and cutaneous effects of ascorbic acid and its derivativesncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Obagi Professional-C Serum 15% Strength
ObagiProfessional-C Serum 15% Strength
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