Side-by-side
COSRX Vitamin C 23 vs Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15%: Which to Choose?
What is the difference between COSRX Vitamin C 23 Serum and Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Serum?
| Product | Key ingredients | Skin type (brand) | Fragrance | Worth knowing | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) 23% | Brand doesn't say | Sold as fragrance free | Nothing flagged | 20 ml | Brand's page Checked | |
| Vitamin C (THD Ascorbate) 15% | Brand doesn't say | Scent ingredients on the label | Limonene, Linalool | 30 ml | Brand's page Checked |
The main differences are the form of vitamin C and the scent ingredients. COSRX Advanced The Vitamin C 23 Serum lists ascorbic acid at 23% and no fragrance. Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% lists tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, an oil-soluble vitamin C derivative, at 15%, along with glycolic acid, orange and tangerine peel oils, linalool and limonene.
How the labels differ
COSRX Advanced The Vitamin C 23 Serum lists 30 ingredients. Its top five are water, ascorbic acid (23%), butylene glycol, dimethicone and panthenol. It also lists 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, caffeine, niacinamide, glutathione, tocotrienols and tocopherol. COSRX sells it as fragrance free, and the list contains no fragrance allergens. The bottle is 20 ml.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum lists 27 ingredients. Its top five are water, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, squalane, polyglyceryl-6 distearate and PEG-8 beeswax. It also lists glycolic acid. It lists orange peel oil, tangerine peel oil, linalool and limonene. The bottle is 30 ml.
Both use vitamin C, but in different forms and at different stated percentages. Besides water, the labels share 2 ingredients, squalane and tocopherol. Neither product file names skin types.
Which to choose
COSRX Advanced The Vitamin C 23 Serum
Choose this if you want
- Pure ascorbic acid, listed second at 23%
- No citrus oils or fragrance allergens on the label
Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
Choose this if you want
- Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a vitamin C derivative
- Glycolic acid in the same formula
- A larger bottle or jar (30 ml vs 20 ml)
Worth knowing
- Scent ingredients on the label: Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Linalool and 1 more
Common questions
Which form of vitamin C does each one use?
COSRX lists ascorbic acid at 23%, plus 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid. Sunday Riley C.E.O. lists tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD ascorbate) at 15%.
Which one lists fragrance ingredients?
C.E.O. 15% lists orange peel oil, tangerine peel oil, linalool and limonene. The COSRX Vitamin C 23 label lists no fragrance, citrus oils or fragrance allergens.
Do they share ingredients?
Besides water, two ingredients appear on both labels: squalane and tocopherol.