M.A.C. Lightful C Marine-Bright Formula Essence/Serum
The M.A.C. Lightful C Marine-Bright Formula Essence/Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 35 ingredients (33 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The M.A.C. Lightful C Marine-Bright Formula Essence/Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 35 ingredients (33 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
|
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Ascorbyl Glucoside
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
|
|
Caffeine
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Masking) |
|
|
|
|
Tocopherol (Vitamin E) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Gentiana Lutea Root Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Uv Absorber, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic) |
|
|
|
|
Porphyra Yezoensis Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Palmaria Palmata Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
|
|
|
|
Algae Extract
(Fragrance, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
|
|
|
|
Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Silk Powder
(Bulking Agent, Skin Conditioning, Slip Modifier, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Tourmaline
(Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
(Flavoring Agent, Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
|
|
|
|
Phenyl Trimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
|
|
|
|
Magnesium Chloride
(Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
|
|
|
|
Hexylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Emulsifying, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
|
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
Potassium Hydroxide
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
|
|
Calcium Chloride
(Cosmetic Astringent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Sulfate
(Viscosity Increasing Agent, Bulking Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
|
|
Fragrance
(Deodorant, Masking, Perfuming) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Citrate
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Chelating, Masking) |
|
|
|
|
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
|
|
Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
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.
Ascorbyl Glucoside
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