SkinCeuticals

SkinCeuticals Serum 20 AOX

Name: SkinCeuticals - Serum 20 AOX
Brand: SkinCeuticals

Efficacy100/100IrritancyLow

See all ingredients

Works for

Evens skin tone

Ascorbic acid, Ferulic acid

Works well

What the product description says

“Improves skin clarity, radiance, and uneven skin tone”

Source: Skinceuticals

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: ferulic 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.

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~8–11.9%

Ferulic acidKey activeEffect: MediumA potent anti-oxidant that has been shown to be effective in neutralizing free radicals in skin. There seem to have a synergetic effect of ferulic acid, vitamin E and C, meaning that when the ingredients are used together, they enhance each other's ability protect the skin against free radicals. Ferulic acid also helps to stabilize other ingredients - including vitamins C and E. It can help to even out the skin tone. Ferulic acid is approved for use as a sunscreen ingredient in Japan in concentrations up to 10%~0.1–0.3%

Moisturizing

Panthenol, Glycerin + 2 more

Works well

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, sodium hyaluronate.

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~0.2–0.75%

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~2.1–3.1%

Sodium hyaluronateKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin~0.05–0.3%

Propylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating~2.7–4%

Anti-aging

Ascorbic acid, Ferulic acid

Works well

What the product description says

“Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles”

Source: Skinceuticals

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: ferulic 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.

Anti-oxidation

Side benefit · Ascorbic acid, Ferulic acid

Works well

This product contains antioxidants (ascorbic acid, ferulic 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).

Ferulic acidKey activeEffect: HighA potent anti-oxidant that has been shown to be effective in neutralizing free radicals in skin. There seem to have a synergetic effect of ferulic acid, vitamin E and C, meaning that when the ingredients are used together, they enhance each other's ability protect the skin against free radicals. Ferulic acid also helps to stabilize other ingredients - including vitamins C and E. It can help to even out the skin tone. Ferulic acid is approved for use as a sunscreen ingredient in Japan in concentrations up to 10%~0.1–0.3%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

4 flagged ingredients

Low risk

We flag 4 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~8–11.9%est.

Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~2.7–4%est.

Zinc sulfateA preservative. It can be irritatingHigh~1.1–1.6%est.

EthoxydiglycolHelps to improve the product consistencyMedium~3.7–5.6%est.

Comedogenic

Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients

None flagged

Alternatives

Cheaper, or higher on efficacy

NourishMax VITAMIN C + B + E + FERULIC & RETINOL SERUM

Cheaper100% match

$59.00

Aesthetics Rx Vitamin C Serum 23%

Cheaper100% 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~8–11.9%

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

Ethoxydiglycol~3.7–5.6%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Helps to improve the product consistency

More about Ethoxydiglycol

Propylene glycol~2.7–4%

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

Glycerin~2.1–3.1%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

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 Glycerin

Zinc sulfate~1.1–1.6%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A preservative. It can be irritating

More about Zinc sulfate

Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol

Sodium hydroxide~0.4–0.95%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to adjust the product's pH

More about Sodium hydroxide

Panthenol~0.2–0.75%

Hero · Moisturizing

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingReduces rednessReduces irritation

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

More about Panthenol

Ferulic acid~0.1–0.3%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-oxidationEvens skin toneAnti-inflammatoryAnti-aging

A potent anti-oxidant that has been shown to be effective in neutralizing free radicals in skin. There seem to have a synergetic effect of ferulic acid, vitamin E and C, meaning that when the ingredients are used together, they enhance each other's ability protect the skin against free radicals. Ferulic acid also helps to stabilize other ingredients - including vitamins C and E. It can help to even out the skin tone. Ferulic acid is approved for use as a sunscreen ingredient in Japan in concentrations up to 10%

More about Ferulic acid

Sodium hyaluronate~0.05–0.3%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin

More about Sodium hyaluronate

Ingredient list view

Water, Ascorbic acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Propylene glycol, Glycerin, Zinc sulfate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium hydroxide, Panthenol, Ferulic acid, Sodium hyaluronate

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Bluemercury0 N/A

$128.00

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Skinceuticals

$128.00

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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
	SkinCeuticalsSerum 20 AOXYOUR PRODUCT	NourishMaxVITAMIN C + B + E + FERULIC & RETINOL SERUM	FormulystActive Serum – Vitamin B, C, E, Ferulic + Niacinamide	Aesthetics RxVitamin C Serum 23%
Match	—	100%	100%	100%
Price	$128.00	$59.00−$69.00	—	$82.10−$45.90
Shared key ingredients	—	5 of 5	5 of 5	5 of 5
Key difference	—	Sodium Pca	Sodium Pca	Vitamin E
Irritancy	Low	Medium	Low	Medium
Drying alcohol	—	—	—	—
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

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Product summary

"SkinCeuticals - Serum 20 AOX" is effective for: Evens skin tone, Moisturizing and Anti-aging

This product could be helpful for: Anti-inflammatory, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

This product also contains Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 8.00% - 11.90% It can be helpful in stimulating collagen production, neutralizing free radicals in skin and improving pigmentation marks. We recommend to use up this product quickly after opening: Ascorbic Acid degrades fast when it gets in contact with air and light. The moment the product turns orange, it is a sign that a significant share of the vitamin C in it is no longer effective.
An effective concentration of Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) - about 0.40% - 1.00%. Panthenol helps strengthen the skin barrier, improve hydration and reduce inflammation in skin.
Humectants (panthenol 0.40% - 1.00%, glycerin 2.10% - 3.10% and sodium hyaluronate 0.05% - 0.30%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.