Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum Versus Truly Vegan Collagen Anti-Aging Face Serum
Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum Versus Truly Vegan Collagen Anti-Aging Face Serum This brightening serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Ascorbic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin. This anti-aging serum
Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum Versus Truly Vegan Collagen Anti-Aging Face Serum
This brightening serum is formulated around Glycolic Acid and Ascorbic Acid to fade the look of dark spots and brighten dull-looking skin.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Alcohol Denat.
Glycolic Acid
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Methyl Gluceth-10
Dextran
Hexapeptide-2
Rice Amino Acids
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Urea
Yeast Amino Acids
Trehalose
Inositol
Taurine
Betaine
Zinc Gluconate
Ascorbic Acid
Chitosan
Propyl Gallate
Nonyl Nonoxynol-10
Lecithin
Tocopherol
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Chitosan PCA
Allantoin
Polyquaternium-10
Sodium Metabisulfite
Sodium Sulfite
Sodium Hydroxide
PPG-26-Buteth-26
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Disodium EDTA
Limonene
Linalool
Parfum
Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-10, Dextran, Hexapeptide-2, Rice Amino Acids, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Zinc Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Chitosan, Propyl Gallate, Nonyl Nonoxynol-10, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Chitosan PCA, Allantoin, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Hydroxide, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Linalool, Parfum
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Phenoxyethanol
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Phospholipids
Retinol
Collagen
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
Corallina Officinalis Extract
Alcohol
Carbomer
Triethanolamine
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Phospholipids, Retinol, Collagen, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.
In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.
This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.
Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.
Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.
Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).
The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.
Ascorbic Acid is is pure Vitamin C and is the biologically active form used directly by skin.
Not only is vitamin C great for your overall health and immune system, but it also has plenty of benefits for your skin. It is best supported by academic literature for:
Topical vitamin C has been shown to help neutralize oxidative stress from UV and pollution, helping to improve photoaging and hyperpigmentation when used consistently.
One clinical study found that using 5% topical vitamin C for six months improved signs of photodamaged skin, both on the surface and in the deeper structural layers of the skin.
While vitamin C doesn’t replace sunscreen, studies show it can boost photoprotection when combined with Vitamin E and ferulic acid. These two ingredients help improve stability and protective effects.
The big downside of this ingredient is formulation difficulty. Vitamin C is prone to oxidation and doesn't penetrate the skin unless formulated correctly. Research found that vitamin C absorbs into the skin best at a low pH (< 3.5) with about 20% being the upper limit for effective absorption.
Skin levels can saturate after repeated application; this means your skin won’t keep absorbing more once it’s full of vitamin C. This is why more isn’t always better with vitamin C and why very high concentrations don’t necessarily give extra benefits.
Ascorbic acid generally works well with many skincare ingredients but can be irritating when combined with other active ingredients. Strong oxidizing acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can reduce the effectiveness of vitamin C if they are used at the same time; they are often recommended for use at different times of day.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Foods rich with vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and more. When consuming Vitamin C, your skin receives a portion of the nutrients.
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.
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!