Medicube
Deep Vitamin C Capsule SerumPaula's Choice
10% Niacinamide BoosterA serum built around Niacinamide and PHA, for barrier repair and hydration.
A serum built around Niacinamide and Vitamin C derivative, for hydration and barrier repair.
Brand price
USD 24.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 53.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, Silicone-free, Pore-clogger-free, Oil-free and Cruelty-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients

Vitamin C derivative (stable)5
Stable derivatives of ascorbic acid.
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Benefits

Hydrating11
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Gluconolactone, Glycereth-26, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Propanediol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair14
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cholesterol, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Glycine Max Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Niacinamide, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Panthenol, Tocopherol
Hydrating7
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Acetyl Glucosamine, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate
Barrier Repair7
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Niacinamide, Panthenol
Reduces Irritation5
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Panthenol
Redness Reducing3
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.

Concerns

May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis14
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, C12-14 Alketh-12, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Dextrin Palmitate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Glycine Max Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Octyldodeceth-16, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris2
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
May Worsen Oily Skin3
May increase shine or excess oil.
Glycine Max Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis3
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- Dark Spots
- Hydrating
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ascorbyl Glucoside (in both products)
Antioxidant
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin C derivative (stable)
- Antioxidant
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Boerhavia Diffusa Root Extract
Skin Protecting
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Niacinamide is niacinamide.
Learn more about Niacinamide →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin →Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Urea, (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)-
Learn more about Allantoin →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →Panthenol
Antistatic, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning
Panthenol is panthenol (provitamin B5).
Learn more about Panthenol →Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a vitamin C derivative.
Learn more about Ascorbyl Glucoside →Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate is a hyaluronic acid.
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate →
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