Covey Next Up Vitamin C Serum Versus Kosas Plump + Juicy Vegan Collagen Spray-On Serum

Covey Next Up Vitamin C Serum Versus Kosas Plump + Juicy Vegan Collagen Spray-On Serum

This brightening serum is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Lactobacillus Ferment to strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Ethoxydiglycol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract

Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract

Propanediol

Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

Pentylene Glycol

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Phenethyl Alcohol

Tocopheryl Acetate

Sodium Hydroxide

Glycerin

Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ethoxydiglycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Propanediol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenethyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate

Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate

Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate

Polyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate

Sodium Gluconate

Erythritol

Hydrolyzed Pea Protein

Maltodextrin

Acacia Seyal Gum Extract

Lactobacillus Ferment

Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract

Hibiscus Sabdariffa Fruit Extract

Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract

Glycine

Proline

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37

Potassium Sorbate

Citric Acid

Benzyl Alcohol

Sodium Benzoate

Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Ricinoleate, Sodium Gluconate, Erythritol, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Maltodextrin, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Glycine, Proline, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (aka MCT Oil) is a lightweight emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping to prevent moisture loss.

Though it behaves like an oil, it is not technically one due to its chemical composition. One perk of this ingredient is that it is very stable, resistant to oxidation, and unlikely to go rancid.

In practice, that translates to a long shelf life and a consistently elegant skin feel.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this. Just patch test if you have concerns.

Fractionated coconut oil and MCT Oil are both listed as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride according to INCI. This is because INCI names are based on the ingredient’s final chemical composition and not its marketing name or source.

This ingredient is treated as the gold standard fungal acne safe oil. Even though it is coconut derived, the problematic lauric acid is stripped out.

This leaves just caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid. These chain lengths actually trend antifungal; a 2020 study found caprylic acid was enough to disrupt Malassezia furfur cell membrane, with a caprylic acid derivative damaging membrane structures at concentrations as low as 0.2%.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:

Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.

On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.

Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.

Phenethyl Alcohol is a colorless and aromatic alohol. It is naturally occuring in essential oils.

The scent of this ingredient is floral and often compared to rose.

Like other alcohols, this ingredient helps prevent the growth of bacteria. However, its main purpose is to impact a fragrance.

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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