Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-aging
- Evens skin tone
- Moisturizing
- Anti-oxidation
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"SUNDAY RILEY - C. E. O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum" is effective for: Anti-aging, Evens skin tone and Exfoliation
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Humectants (saccharide isomerate 0.10% - 0.25% and glycerin 0.25% - 0.45%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "SUNDAY RILEY" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.
Price
The product retails for 178.43A$ in Australia, from 42.50$ up to 122.00$ in the United States, for 70.00£ in the United Kingdom, for 112.00CA$ in Canada and for 690.00HK$ in Hong Kong.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Minimizes the appearance of pores while supporting the skin's moisture barrier for a smooth, youthful, glowing look.
Source: Sephora
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains glycolic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate.
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.
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
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.
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
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.
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
Source: From product name
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: glycolic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
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.
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 alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
Exfoliation
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: glycolic acid.
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Minimizes the appearance of pores while supporting the skin's moisture barrier for a smooth, youthful, glowing look.
Source: Sephora
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
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. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin, saccharide isomerate.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: squalane, glycine soja sterols.
An emollient that helps soften the skin
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
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 attract water to the upper layer of the skin
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
Helps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
Helps water and oil mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be an allergen (beeswax)
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-aging | |
| Evens skin tone | |
| Moisturizing |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 91/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
User reviews (1)
Averages from community submissions.
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 SUNDAY RILEY C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum | Current | $-1.00 | |
 Image skincare IMAGE MD restoring youth repair serum | 57% | $65.20 | |
 DermExcel Collagen Serum | 56% | $866.09 | |
 sjal själ Bio-Regeneratif Serum Active Energy Lift | 51% | $165.00 | |
 Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C™ Vitamin C Power Serum | 50% | - | |
 Dr Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Texture Renewal Serum Packette | 47% | $0.00 |
Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-6 distearate, Peg-8 beeswax, Citrus aurantium dulcis oil, Citrus tangerina peel oil, Glycine soja sterols, Ppg-12/smdi copolymer, Sodium phytate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Jojoba esters, Glycolic acid, Caprylyl glycol, Cetyl alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 beeswax, Chlorphenesin, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan isostearate, Saccharide isomerate, Linalool, Limonene
- 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 Citrus-Derived Peel Oils as Used in Cosmetics
- Oxidized citrus oil (R-limonene): A frequent skin sensitizer in Europe
- Air oxidation increases skin irritation from fragrance terpenes
- Biological Activities and Safety of Citrus spp. Essential Oils
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS NOTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT SCHEME (NICNAS) PUBLIC REPORT Acetamide, N-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]- (INCI Name: Acetamidoethoxyethanol)
- ElfaMoist AC humectant (manufacturer's report)
- Photoprotective and antiinflammatory effects of topical glycolic acid
- Glycolic acid peel therapy – a current review
- Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin
- Safety Assessment of Polyglyceryl Fatty Acid Esters as Used in Cosmetics
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions