Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Moisturizing
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-aging
- Exfoliation
- Evens skin tone
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Key actives
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Fragrance-free Vitamin C facial scrub gently exfoliates and nourishes, revealing smoother, brighter-looking skin without leaving it feeling stripped or dry.
Source: Ulta
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.
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: caprylic/capric triglyceride, helianthus annuus seed oil.
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
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 great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
Lipids that work as an emollient and can be helpful in repairing skin 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.
An emollient that helps soften the skin and might help calm down inflammation
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
Help soften the upper layer of the skin
A plant oil that might somewhat help to neutralize free radicals. It could be irritating
An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin but solid research is lacking. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines for a more youthful-looking complexion.
Source: Ulta
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
A stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin C
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
Vitamin C (SAP) : brightens and evens the look of skin tone
Source: TruSkin
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub
Source: TruSkin
This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Moisturizing | |
| Anti-aging | |
| Exfoliation | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 18/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 TruSkin Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub | Current | $14.99 | |
 Ahava Facial Mud Exfoliator | 38% | ≈ $27.93 | |
 ZO Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator | 32% | $89.94 | |
 Purlisse Watermelon 2-Minute Polishing Peel | 32% | $18.99 | |
 DIBI Milano Face Perfection Reactivating Scrub | 32% | ≈ $28.14 | |
 Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator | 31% | ≈ $24.12 |
Key Actives
An emollient that helps soften the skin and might help calm down inflammation
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
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 good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
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.
Lipids that work as an emollient and can be helpful in repairing skin barrier function
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
Potential irritants
Used as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating
A plant oil that might somewhat help to neutralize free radicals. It could be irritating
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
Lipids that work as an emollient and can be helpful in repairing skin barrier function
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties. Avoid if you are sensitive to gluten
Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin but solid research is lacking. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
A stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin C
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
Comedogenic ingredients
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
All ingredients
An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function
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. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
An emollient that helps soften the skin and might help calm down inflammation
Used as a cleansing agent (surfactant) in cleansers. Helps water and oil mix together in lotions. Can be irritating
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
A plant oil that might somewhat help to neutralize free radicals. It could be irritating
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.
Lipids that work as an emollient and can be helpful in repairing skin barrier function
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties. Avoid if you are sensitive to gluten
An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation
Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin but solid research is lacking. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
A stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin C
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
Ingredient list view
Water, Jojoba esters, Glycerin, Cetearyl alcohol, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Glyceryl stearates, Carthamus tinctorius seed oil, Butyrospermum parkii nut extract, Coco-glucoside, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Hippophae rhamnoides fruit oil, Squalane, Phytosterols, Withania somnifera root extract, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Citrus junos peel oil, Hordeum vulgare extract, Cucumis sativus seed extract, Olea europaea fruit extract, Brassica oleracea acephala leaf extract, Propanediol, Dimethyl sulfone, Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Sodium phytate, Carbomer, Xanthan gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium hydroxide, Calcium carbonate
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