What's In My Jar
Skin Authority Super-C Serum
Skin Authority

Skin Authority Super-C Serum

Efficacy100/100IrritancyLow
See all ingredients

Works for

Anti-oxidation
Ascorbic acid, Pinus pinaster bark extract
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 - pinus pinaster bark extract 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~6.1–9.1%
Pinus pinaster bark extractKey activeEffect: MediumA plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but evidence of effectiveness of topical application is lacking. It can be an INCI name for the trademarked ingredient Pycnogenol (but could also be a different type of this plant's bark extract)~2–3%
Anti-aging
Ascorbic acid
Works well
What the product description says
“Helps fade the appearance of discoloration and fine lines.”
Source: Skinstore

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

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~6.1–9.1%
Evens skin tone
Ascorbic acid, Pinus pinaster bark extract
Works well
What the product description says
“Helps fade the appearance of discoloration and fine lines.”
Source: Skinstore

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: pinus pinaster bark extract.

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~6.1–9.1%
Pinus pinaster bark extractEffect: LowA plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but evidence of effectiveness of topical application is lacking. It can be an INCI name for the trademarked ingredient Pycnogenol (but could also be a different type of this plant's bark extract)~2–3%
Moisturizing
Side benefit the brand mentions · Panthenol, Propylene glycol + 1 more
Works well
What the product description says
“Utilising 20% Ascorbic Acid, and AOX TechnologyTM, the antioxidant rich solution works to improve skin firmness, tone and radiance whilst protecting against photo-ageing.”
Source: Lookfantastic US

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": panthenol, caprylyl glycol.

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).

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol

PanthenolHero· HumectantEffect: HighHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function~1–1.5%
Propylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating~3.7–5.5%
Caprylyl glycol· Humectant, EmollientEffect: LowHelps preserve products and creates a nice product texture~0.1–0.35%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
9 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 9 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
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~6.1–9.1%est.
Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~3.7–5.5%est.
EthoxydiglycolHelps to improve the product consistencyMedium~2.6–3.9%est.
Pinus pinaster bark extractA plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but evidence of effectiveness of topical application is lacking. It can be an INCI name for the trademarked ingredient Pycnogenol (but could also be a different type of this plant's bark extract)Medium~2–3%est.
Tetrasodium edtaHelps to stabilize the product formulationMedium~1.3–1.9%est.
Polysorbate 60Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.45–1%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.1–0.35%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.05–0.15%est.
Hexylene glycolHelps create a more spreadable product textureMedium~0.05–0.1%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged
Alternatives
The closest match we found
Vitamin C Serum 23%
Aesthetics Rx Vitamin C Serum 23%
Closest match93% match
$82.10
View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Ascorbic acid~6.1–9.1%
Hero · Anti-aging, Anti-oxidation, Evens skin toneIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Evens skin toneAnti-agingAnti-oxidation

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
Propylene glycol~3.7–5.5%
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
Ethoxydiglycol~2.6–3.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps to improve the product consistency

More about Ethoxydiglycol
Pinus pinaster bark extract~2–3%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidationEvens skin tone

A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but evidence of effectiveness of topical application is lacking. It can be an INCI name for the trademarked ingredient Pycnogenol (but could also be a different type of this plant's bark extract)

More about Pinus pinaster bark extract
Hydroxyethylcellulose~1.5–2.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures

More about Hydroxyethylcellulose
Tetrasodium edta~1.3–1.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps to stabilize the product formulation

More about Tetrasodium edta
Panthenol~1–1.5%
Hero · Moisturizing
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Reduces rednessMoisturizingReduces irritation

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

More about Panthenol
Polysorbate 20~0.85–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 20
Glycereth-26~0.5–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps create a thicker product consistency

More about Glycereth-26
Polysorbate 60~0.45–1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 60
Polysorbate 80~0.35–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Polysorbate 80
Sodium hydroxide~0.15–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide
Phenoxyethanol~0.1–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Caprylyl glycol~0.1–0.35%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Hexylene glycol~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps create a more spreadable product texture

More about Hexylene glycol
Ingredient list view

Water, Ascorbic acid, Propylene glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Pinus pinaster bark extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tetrasodium edta, Panthenol, Polysorbate 20, Glycereth-26, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, Sodium hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene glycol

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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
Skin AuthoritySuper-C SerumYOUR PRODUCTAesthetics RxVitamin C Serum 23%SkinCeuticalsSerum 20 AOXFormulystActive Serum – Vitamin B, C, E, Ferulic + Niacinamide
Match—93%92%92%
Price—$82.10$128.00—
Shared key ingredients—2 of 32 of 32 of 3
Key difference—Ferulic AcidFerulic AcidFerulic Acid
Irritancy Low Medium Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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More alternatives: NourishMax VITAMIN C + B + E + FERULIC & RETINOL SERUMEczema Honey Co Eczema Honey 15% Vitamin C + Ferulic Acid Serum

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 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
    Study of nutraceutical, nutricosmetics and cosmeceutical potentials of polyphenolic bark extracts from Canadian forest speciesdoi.org
  5. 5
    Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
  6. 6
    Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
Skin Authority Super-C Serum
Skin AuthoritySuper-C Serum
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Find on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.