In this episode, we put five popular vitamin C serums featuring 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid to the test: Beauty of Joseon Light on Serum, Elf C+E+Feruic Acid Serum, Olay Vitamin C Brightening Serum,  Innisfree Green Tean Enzyme Vitamin C, and Numbuz:n 5+. This is a wild category of products. Unlike the CE Ferulic dupes, the range is far and wide in between! From texture critiques (why so sticky, Elf?) to actives breakdown, we decode the labels and share which formulas we’d choose — and which ones barely count as a vitamin C serum at all.

 

Products Discussed this 2025 Podcast Season

*a small portion of your purchase through these links goes to feeding a chemist.
https://shopmy.us/collections/1280514

Product Shoutout:

Mr. Reliable Moisturizer with 3% Ceramide Complex
https://chemistconfessions.com/products/mr-reliable-lightweight-moisturizer

Enrichment Content:

EP144: Is 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid a worthy vitamin C derivative?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9wfbFIUIJg

From the Blog: Which Vitamin C Derivative is Best for My Skin

https://chemistconfessions.com/blogs/which-vitamin-c-derivative-is-the-best-for-my-skin 

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