Vitamin C Booster Shot
What it's good for
Key actives from our research database. Click any to read the full evidence dossier.
Brightens dull skin and helps fade dark spots. Also defends against everyday UV and pollution damage when worn under sunscreen.
Good for: Brightening, Antioxidant
Evidence behind the ingredients
Real citations from our research database, one per tracked active in this product. Click any ingredient name to read its full evidence dossier.
Brightens dull skin and helps fade dark spots. Also defends against everyday UV and pollution damage when worn under sunscreen.
Krutmann J et al. PINGing Sunshine: A Review of the Evidence for Adding Non-Filtering Photoprotective Ingredients to Sunscreens. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2025;41(6). — Review of Photoprotective INGredients (PINGs); L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) identified as a top-ranked PING demonstrating efficacy across multiple photodamage endpoints.
Pullar JM et al., The roles of vitamin C in skin health, Nutrients 2017;9(8):866 — concluded topical efficacy "poorly understood"; supports dietary vitamin C
Lee JH et al., Effects of VitabridC12 on Skin Inflammation, Annals of Dermatology 2017
Sources: 10 clinical journals and regulatory databases across the US, EU, Korea, Japan, and China. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for the full list and what each outcome label means.
Full ingredient list
Everything on the package label, not just the tracked actives above.
+−Show all 29 ingredients
Listed in the order printed on the package. By regulation, ingredients at 1% or higher are listed in descending order by concentration, so the first entry is the largest part of the formula.
- Water
- Glycerin
- Methylpropanediol
- 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid(50,000Ppm)
- Butylene Glycol
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Niacinamide
- Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
- Cetearyl Olivate
- Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
- Diisostearyl Malate
- Sodium Polyacrylate
- Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
- Sorbitan Olivate
- Arginine
- Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
- Xanthan Gum
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Dextrin
- Adenosine
- Allantoin
- Ascorbic Acid(10Ppm)
- Glutathione
- Panthenol
- Pyridoxine
- Tocopherol
- Ascorbyl Glucoside
- Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Layering conflicts
Ingredients in this product that can react with common actives. Avoid stacking unless noted.
- Benzoyl Peroxidemedium
Benzoyl peroxide breaks down vitamin C, making both less effective. Use one in the morning and the other at night.
- Retinollow
Vitamin C and retinol work best at different pH levels. Use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night.
Similar comparisons
Not medical advice. GlowPal is educational. Patch-test new products and talk to a qualified healthcare professional before changing your routine, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or have a diagnosed skin condition. See our terms.