What’s the best Vitamin C serum for acne-prone skin?
I usually recommend Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum. It has Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP), a Vitamin C derivative that tackles both wrinkles and acne.
Or I did… until InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum started giving it a run for its money. Like Mad Hippie, it opted for SAP – but the price is even cheaper!
Does that make InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum a dupe for Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum? Let’s find out:
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Did you know Vitamin C comes in many forms? L-Ascorbic Acid (LAA) is the pure form. Studies show it can:
- Fight the free radicals that give you wrinkles
- Boost the production of collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm
- Reduce transepidermal water loss, helping to keep skin hydrated
- Brighten skin and fade away hyperpigmentation
The catch? There are a couple:
- Irritation: LAA needs a low pH to work. Low pHs irritate sensitive skin, make it sting and turn it red.
- Spoils quickly: LAA usually goes bad within 3 months! You know when this happens – the serum turns brown.
How can you get all the benefits of LAA sans the side effects? Enter Vitamin C derivatives, like Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (the form used in Mad Hippie and InstaNatural Vitamin C Serums).
SAP converts to L-Ascorbic Acid in the skin. It’s still a little less effective than pure LAA, but way gentler and lasts for months. Phew!
If you have oily, acne-prone skin, you have another reason to switch to SAP: it helps treat acne. Studies show SAP reduces sebum oxidation (a main cause of acne and inflammation) by up to 40%! It’s also more effective than 5% benzoyl peroxide and 0.1% differin.
Related: Is Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate The Best Vitamin C Derivative?
Vitamin E + Ferulic Acid
I’m sure you’ve heard that Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid boost the effectiveness of Vitamin C.
Good news: both Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum and InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum have their fair share of Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid.
Together, Vitamins C + E + Ferulic acid make one other more effective and increase the sun protection your sunscreen gives you. That’s why I recommend you use your Vitamin C in the morning.
P.S. Ferulic acid is an antioxidant on steroids. It fights THREE types of free radicals! (Most antioxidants only destroy one).
Related: Is Ferulic Acid The Most Powerful Antioxidant Of Them All?
What Else Do You Need To Know?
Both Mad Hippie and InstaNatural Vitamin C Serums have their fair share of antioxidants. InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum has the upper hand here. It has a higher concentration of antioxidants, including:
- Licorice Extract: A powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, soothes inflammation and brightens the skintone
- Green Tea Extract: It fights free radicals, soothes irritations and boosts sun protection
- Ginko Biloba Extract: Another antioxidant with inflammatory properties
Mad Hippie, on the other hand, wins in the hydration department. This Vitamin C serum is loaded with glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid, two moisture magnets that attract water from the air into the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid is particularly good at this: it binds to the skin up to 1000 times its weight in water! All that extra moisture helps to keep skin soft and supple for hours.
Related: Is Green Tea The Best Antioxidant Out There?
Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
Go for Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum if:
- You have oily and dehydrated skin that needs the extra moisture
- You have sensitive skin (Mad Hippie has fewer ingredients, so fewer chances of irritations)
Go for InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum if:
- You are more concerned with anti-aging and want as many antioxidants in your serum as possible
- You’re on a strict budget
Related: Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum Full Review
Availability
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum ($33.99/ÂŁ28.00): Available at Free People, iHerb and Ulta
InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum ($22.00/ÂŁ17.75): Available at Beauty Bay and iHerb
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Is InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum A Dupe For Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum?
I wouldn’t say InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum is an exact dupe for Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum. But it’s a good alternative for acne-prone ladies (and gentlemen) on a budget.
Have you tried InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum and Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum? Share your pick in the comments below.
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum Ingredients: Water Deionized, Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Alkyl Benzoate, Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea), Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis), Hyaluronic acid, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Vitamin E (Tocotrienol), Ferulic acid, Chamomile Flower Extract (Recutita Matricaria), Sodium Phytate, Xanthum Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose
InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum Ingredients: Aqua, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Extract, Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Algae Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Ferulic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.
Mad hippie makes my dehydrated oily skin very soft but I feel the need of an extra dose of vitamin C. Can I use mad hippie and Skinceutical vitamin C together? I really love them! ❤️
There is any LAA I can use with mad hippie or any product that combined both ?
Thanks 🙂
Tatiana, I don’t see the point in using both. If you need to add more antioxidants, go with something that’s not in the Mad Hippie serum.
How does Timeless 20% C measure up?
Chicklus, it uses a different form of Vitamin C, L-Ascorbic Acid. It’s more powerful, but also more irritating and goes bad faster.
How does these compare to Skinceuticles Vit. C E F serum. Dupes?
Shimmeringly, Skinceuticals uses a different form of Vitamin C, L-Ascorbic Acid. It’s more effective, but also more irritating and goes bad very quickly.
How does Mad Hippie Vitamin C compare to Epionce Intense Defense serum, besides the enormous price difference?
Melinda, they use different forms of Vitamin C. Mad Hippie is more suitable for oily skin, while Epionce is better for dry skin.
would 23 be too young to use the instanatural vitamin c serum?
also, both products seem to measure up.. but instanatural is about 40% cheaper than mad hippie’s serum where i live! would topping up for the mad hippie serum be worth it? trying to be budget conscious too!
thanks 🙂