Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum
The IMAGE skincare Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 79 ingredients (60 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The IMAGE skincare Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 79 ingredients (60 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
21/14
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
2/0
Sensitive Skin
12/22
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
B
|
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
(Fragrance) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
6
|
|
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
|
|
1
|
A
|
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antimicrobial) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Cetearyl Olivate
(Hair Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sorbitan Olivate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
|
PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer
(Emollient, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
3
|
A
|
PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
|
|
1
|
|
Di-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
6
|
|
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
(Uv Absorber, Uv Filter) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
|
|
|
Glycine Soja Sterols
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
|
Linoleic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Linoleic Acid., Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Phospholipids
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS SEED OIL
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Squalene
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antistatic Agent, Refatting) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
3
|
B
|
Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Glucosamine HCl
(Ph Adjuster, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hexylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Emulsifying, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
(Antistatic Agent) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
PEG-8
(Humectant, Solvent) |
|
|
|
|
Pisum Sativum Extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
|
|
|
|
Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract
(Humectant, Oral Care Agent) |
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Opacifying, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
olea europaea leaf extract
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
|
|
1
|
|
Yeast Polysaccharides
(Film Forming, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
(Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
7
|
|
Eugenol
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Masking, Tonic) |
Allergens
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
2
|
A
|
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
3
|
A
|
Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
B
|
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
|
|
|
|
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Sodium Lactate
(Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Humectant, Keratolytic) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Taurine
(Fragrance, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Corallina Officinalis Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
(Anti Seborrheic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Oral Care, Skin Protecting, Uv Absorber) |
|
|
|
|
CENTELLA ASIATICA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM EXTRACT
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Centella Asiatica Extract
(Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing, Tonic) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
6
|
A
|
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
|
|
1
|
|
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Darutoside
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Leucine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Lysine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Valine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, ASCORBIC ACID
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
From the community
Used this product? Rate it in 10 seconds
Alternatives
Other products people analyze alongside this one.