“Gio, is The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% In Silicone a dupe for Indeed Labs Vitamin C24? Ought to I swap?” If I had a penny for each time somebody requested me this query up to now few months, I’d be a millionaire. I made a decision to settle the query as soon as and for all with a weblog put up. Right here’s my ideas on which of those two Vitamin C merchandise is price your cash:
What Elements Do They Have In Frequent?
ASCORBIC ACID TO FIGHT PREMATURE AGING
Each The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% In Silicone and Indeed Labs Vitamin C24 use the pure type of vitamin C, L-Ascorbic Acid. Ascorbic Acid is an antiaging powerhouse:
- It destroys the free radicals that trigger untimely ageing
- It will increase collagen manufacturing, conserving your pores and skin agency
- It fades away darkish spots
- It provides your complexion a beautiful glow
- It boosts solar safety (especially when paired with vitamin E and ferulic – neither product has them… )
Ascorbic Acid is a robust weapon in opposition to ageing. And like all highly effective weapons, it has a double edged sword. For starters, Ascorbic Acid is tremendous unstable. It oxidises (ie turns into ineffective) when uncovered to mild, air and water. That is why each merchandise use a silicone as an alternative than a water base. It makes your vitamin C last more.
Ascorbic Acid can be probably the most irritating type of vitamin C on the market. It’s not unusual to expertise tingling and irritation once you first begin utilizing it. For greatest outcomes, use it a few occasions per week and construct frequency from there. In case your pores and skin could be very delicate, you might have to come back to phrases with the truth that it might not be capable of tolerate it in any respect. Attempt one in every of its much less highly effective however gentler derivatives, as an alternative.
Associated: Types Of Vitamin C In Skincare
Need extra dupes? Obtain the “Skincare Dupes” cheatsheet under for probably the most cost-effective skincare merchandise and by no means compromise on outcomes once more:
SILICONES TO MINIMISE FINE LINES AND WRINKLES
Ah, the skincare household everybody likes to hate! Silicones assist maintain your treasured Vitamin C steady and efficient for longer. Silicones create a protecting barrier that shields ascorbic acid from air and lightweight, which might in any other case oxidize it and make it ineffective.
However right here’s the trade-off: can Vitamin C truly attain the pores and skin when it’s trapped inside all these silicones? Sure, it could possibly. Silicones have a specific molecular construction that’s made up of massive molecules with vast holes between them. That permits silicones to create a protecting barrier on the pores and skin that traps moisture in and permits actives to get via. However, there’s an opportunity that NOT the entire Vitamin C will attain your pores and skin.
I assume that’s why the manufacturers have upped the Vitamin C dose, so even when some will get blocked by the silicone barrier, an enormous dollop can nonetheless get via. However right here’s the place issues get tough: The Bizarre has been reformulated. The brand new model solely incorporates one silicone, presumably to please the anti-silicone crowd. That prime dose of Vitamin C (23%)? Nonetheless there.
With out all these silicones appearing as a buffer, far more of that Vitamin C might hit your pores and skin instantly, which could imply extra irritation and stinging. The unique silicone-heavy formulation cushioned the depth. Now? You may actually really feel it. Extra isn’t at all times higher, and ascorbic acid will be irritating in larger doses, keep in mind?
Associated: Do Silicones Allow Active Ingredients To Reach Your Skin?
What Else Is In These Vitamin C Merchandise?
INDEED LABS VITAMIN C24
- Ethylhexyl palmitate: An artificial ester that acts as a skin-softening emollient, principally making your pores and skin really feel all velvety and serving to different substances unfold evenly.
- Butylene glycol: A hydration helper and texture improver that makes merchandise really feel much less sticky and helps different substances penetrate your pores and skin higher.
- Caprylyl glycol: Does double obligation as a moisturizer and a preservative, conserving the formulation contemporary whereas additionally conditioning your pores and skin.
- Phenoxyethanol: The bodyguard preservative that retains micro organism and mould from crashing the occasion and ruining your product.
- Sodium hyaluronate: The smaller, overachieving cousin of hyaluronic acid that may maintain like 1000x its weight in water, plumping up your pores and skin like a tiny moisture sponge.
- Hexylene glycol: A solvent and preservative booster that helps substances combine collectively properly and retains the formulation steady and efficient.
THE ORDINARY VITAMIN C SUSPENSION 23% IN SILICONE
- Squalane: A light-weight oil that mimics your pores and skin’s pure sebum, so it sinks in quick and hydrates with none greasy aftermath. Shark-friendly lately because it’s often from olives.
- Isodecyl Neopentanoate: An artificial ester that’s principally a dry oil – it spreads like a dream, feels weightless, and helps the product glide on with none sticky enterprise.
- Isononyl Isononanoate: One other light-weight emollient that offers you that silky, non-greasy really feel and helps the whole lot mix easily into your pores and skin.
- Coconut Alkanes: Plant-derived emollient from coconuts that’s a clear various to silicones – provides you that clean, velvety texture with out the precise silicone.
- Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer: A texture modifier that thickens the formulation and provides it that gel-like, bouncy consistency with out making it heavy.
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate: The identical skin-softening artificial ester from earlier than that makes the whole lot really feel clean and helps substances unfold evenly.
- Sodium Hyaluronate: The hydration hero returns! Holds a ridiculous quantity of water and plumps your pores and skin up prefer it simply had one of the best facial ever.
- Glucomannan: A pure thickener from konjac root that helps create that gel-like texture and may also bind water for further hydration.
- Coco-Caprylate/Caprate: A light-weight coconut-derived emollient that’s just like the cool, breezy various to heavier oils – absorbs quick and feels barely-there.
- Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer: Works with its copolymer buddy to offer the formulation that good, spreadable gel consistency.
- Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Crosspolymer: A thickening agent that helps stabilize the formulation and may also give it that clean, luxe texture.
- Trihydroxystearin: A thickening and texturizing ingredient that helps give the product physique and a richer really feel on the pores and skin.
- BHT: An antioxidant preservative that retains the oils and fat within the formulation from going rancid and funky over time.
WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?
Okay, right here’s the deal: this one’s tough as a result of they’re not even actually the identical factor anymore.
Certainly Labs nonetheless has all these silicones doing their factor: conserving the vitamin C steady, creating that protecting barrier, and cushioning the supply so it’s much less harsh in your pores and skin. It’s the safer wager if you would like constant outcomes with out a lot drama. The excessive vitamin C dose is buffered by all that silicone, so that you get the advantages with out your face freaking out.
The Bizarre, although? It’s had a little bit of an id disaster. They reformulated it to solely have one silicone (most likely as a result of everybody and their mom was complaining about silicones), however they saved that aggressive 23% vitamin C focus. So now you’ve obtained this tremendous excessive dose with out a lot of a buffer. Which means extra vitamin C might truly attain your pores and skin…however it additionally means far more potential for irritation, stinging, and redness. In case your pores and skin is delicate otherwise you’re new to vitamin C, this might be tough.
TL;DR: Certainly Labs is healthier for most individuals. The Bizarre is cheaper however doubtlessly far more irritating now that it’s misplaced most of its silicone cushion.
Associated: My Full Review Of Indeed Labs Vitamin C24
What’s The Texture Like?
Okay, so texture-wise, these two are…totally different. The Bizarre’s formulation is thick and gritty, like, you’ll be able to actually really feel the vitamin C granules. It’s not probably the most elegant factor you’ll ever put in your face, truthfully. It takes some rubbing to get it to sink in, and in case you’re not affected person, you may find yourself with a barely grainy end. It’s useful, not fancy.
Certainly Labs is method smoother and extra nice to make use of. It glides on like a dream, absorbs sooner, and doesn’t depart you feeling such as you simply exfoliated with sandpaper. If texture issues to you (and let’s be actual, it does), Certainly Labs wins this spherical fingers down.
What’s The Perfume Like?
Neither of those scent wonderful, let’s simply put that on the market. The Bizarre is just about unscented-maybe a faint chemical-ish scent in case you actually get your nostril in there, however nothing offensive. It’s very “I’m right here to work, not scent fairly.”
Certainly Labs has a lightweight citrusy scent that’s truly kinda good? It’s not overpowering, just a bit contemporary enhance within the morning. Some folks find it irresistible, some folks would moderately don’t have anything. Personally, I don’t thoughts it. It makes the entire expertise really feel a bit extra luxe.
What’s The Packaging Like?
Each of those are available tubes, so truthfully, there’s not a lot to say right here. The Bizarre has their signature minimalist tube: naked bones, useful, very “we spent the finances on the formulation, not the packaging.”
Certainly Labs additionally makes use of a tube. It does the identical job-you squeeze, product comes out, accomplished. Neither is successful any design awards. In the event you’re somebody who cares about fairly packaging, you’re gonna be disenchanted by each of those, truthfully.
How To Use Them
Each of those go on after cleaning and earlier than moisturizer and sunscreen. Apply them within the morning for max antioxidant safety all through the day.
With The Bizarre, you’ll wish to take your time. Rub it between your fingers first to heat it up and break down these granules a bit, then pat and therapeutic massage it into your pores and skin. Don’t rush it otherwise you’ll find yourself with a gritty mess. Additionally, perhaps don’t use it day-after-day in case you’re new to vitamin C – that 23% focus isn’t any joke.
Certainly Labs is far more foolproof. Simply pump it out, clean it on, and also you’re good to go. It performs effectively with different merchandise and doesn’t require a PhD to use. In the event you’re lazy within the morning (hello, identical), this one’s simpler to work with.

Which Of The Two Ought to You Go For?
Okay, actual discuss: this was once a better query to reply when each formulation had been loaded with silicones. Now? It’s difficult.
Go for Certainly Labs if: You need a formulation that’s obtained that silicone cushion nonetheless doing its factor. It’s smoother, much less gritty, simpler to slap on within the morning, and method much less more likely to make your pores and skin freak out. These silicones buffer that 24% vitamin C so that you get the brightening with out your face feeling prefer it’s on fireplace. In case your pores and skin is delicate otherwise you’re new to this complete high-strength vitamin C factor, that is the one. The silicones aren’t villains right here. They’re truly making your life simpler.
Go for The Bizarre if: You’re broke and your pores and skin can deal with something. It’s cheaper, and if the gritty texture and potential stinging don’t scare you, it’ll get the job accomplished. However heads up: with out these silicones buffering it, that 23% vitamin C is hitting your pores and skin extra instantly. Extra irritation, extra redness, extra “why does my face damage?” moments. The reformulation was presupposed to make the anti-silicone folks comfortable, however truthfully it would’ve simply made issues worse for everybody else.
The trustworthy reply? Certainly Labs might be the smarter choose proper now. The Bizarre isn’t the identical product it was once, and that vitamin C with out the silicone security web is dangerous enterprise. In the event you can swing the additional money, go along with Certainly Labs. Your face will probably be much less indignant about it.
Availability
The Bizarre Vitamin C Suspension 23% In Silicone: £7.70/$8.10 at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta
Certainly Labs Vitamin C24: £24.99 at Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, and Ulta
Is The Bizarre Vitamin C Suspension 23% In Silicone A Dupe For Certainly Labs Vitamin C24?
It was once, however not anymore. When The Bizarre was nonetheless rocking a number of silicones in its formulation, yeah, these two had been fairly rattling related. Similar excessive vitamin C focus, identical silicone: heavy base, identical thought of buffering all that ascorbic acid so it doesn’t wreck your face. They weren’t equivalent twins, however shut sufficient that you might name The Bizarre a stable dupe and save your self some money.
However now? Nah. The Bizarre went and reformulated, stripping out many of the silicones to appease everybody who’s petrified of them. So now you’ve obtained 23% vitamin C with barely any silicone cushion, whereas Certainly Labs nonetheless has 24% vitamin C with all these silicones doing their protecting factor. They’re not dupes anymore.
The Bizarre is cheaper, positive, however it’s additionally doubtlessly method harsher in your pores and skin now. Certainly Labs is the safer, gentler choice that truly delivers on what the unique Bizarre formulation promised. In the event you had been hoping to economize and get the identical expertise, sorry-that ship has sailed. The reformulation modified the sport.
Certainly Labs Vitamin C24 Elements
dimethicone, ascorbic acid, polysilicone-11, ethylhexyl palmitate, peg-10 dimethicone, silica silylate, silica dimethyl silylate, butylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, sodium hyaluronate, hexylene glycol
The Bizarre Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone Elements
Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Coconut Alkanes, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucomannan, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trihydroxystearin, Bht.
