Vitamin C Moisturizer
The PrescriptSkin Vitamin C Moisturizer is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 48 ingredients (22 low-risk) rates it Excellent (89/100). 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 PrescriptSkin Vitamin C Moisturizer is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 48 ingredients (22 low-risk) rates it Excellent (89/100). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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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
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Glyceryl Stearate SE
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
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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
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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3-O-ETHYL ASCORBIC ACID
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Avena sativa Kernel Extract
(Abrasive, Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
(Anti Sebum, Astringent, Skin Conditioning) |
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salix alba bark extract
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic) |
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Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract
(Perfuming) |
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CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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citrus limon peel extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Skin Protecting, Tonic) |
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Humulus Lupulus Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antiperspirant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
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Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
(Flavouring, Fragrance, Oral Care, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
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Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
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Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
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Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Spirulina Platensis Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
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BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
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Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Malic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Gluconic Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Buffering Agent, Humectant, Solvent) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
(Antioxidant, Perfuming) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous) |
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Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Tartaric Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Citronellol
(Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
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Citral
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
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Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
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Linalool
(Fragrance, Deodorant, Masking) |
Allergens
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PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
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
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinyl Palmitate
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.
3-O-ETHYL ASCORBIC ACID, ASCORBIC ACID
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tartaric 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.
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