cipher C-Shield Antioxidant Serum

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Aqua
2. Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
3. Propanediol
4. Niacinamide
5. Ascorbyl Glucoside
6. Sodium Lactate
7. Betaine
8. Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
9. Pinus Strobus Bark Extract
10. Coffea Arabica Seed Extract
11. Superoxide Dismutase
12. Caffeine
13. Sodium Hyaluronate
14. Lactobacillus Ferment
15. Panthenol
16. Saccharide Isomerate
17. D-Alpha Tocopherol
18. Allantoin
19. Olive Glycerides
20. Hydroxyacetophenone
21. Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract
22. Lactic Acid
23. Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
24. Sodium Phytate
25. Xanthan Gum
26. Undecane
27. Lecithin
28. Tridecane
29. Sclerotium Gum
30. Pullulan

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains mineral oil

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

AquaPropanediol

ANTIOXIDANT

Sodium Ascorbyl PhosphateAscorbyl Glucoside

SMOOTHING

Niacinamide

BUFFERING

Sodium Lactate

HAIR CONDITIONING

Betaine

ANTI-SEBORRHEIC

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Other ingredients

Pinus Strobus Bark ExtractCoffea Arabica Seed ExtractSuperoxide DismutaseCaffeineSodium HyaluronateLactobacillus FermentPanthenolSaccharide IsomerateD-Alpha TocopherolAllantoinOlive GlyceridesHydroxyacetophenoneCocos Nucifera Fruit ExtractLactic AcidPolyglyceryl-10 LaurateSodium PhytateXanthan GumUndecaneLecithinTridecaneSclerotium GumPullulan

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Vitamin C derivative antioxidant at 0.5–2%; light-sensitive, requires opaque packaging

Propanediol

Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative

Niacinamide

Niacinamide at 2–5%; improves texture, controls oil, brightens; high levels may cause sensitivity

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Stable Vitamin C derivative, antioxidant; more stable than pure ascorbic acid, releases activity slowly in neutral/basic conditions.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Betaine

Betaine for mild moisturizing/surfactant; low concentration 1-2% common, high may irritate.

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Bio-fermented filtrate for antimicrobial and anti-dandruff effects; assess individual variability, avoid in known allergy.

Pinus Strobus Bark Extract

Not decoded yet

Coffea Arabica Seed Extract

Coffee extract for skin conditioning/antioxidants; contains caffeine, watch sensitivity.

Superoxide Dismutase

Enzymatic antioxidant breaking down superoxide radicals; used as bioactive at low levels, requires strict temperature control to prevent inactivation.

Caffeine

Active ingredient, 0.1–2%; promotes circulation, irritation risk at high concentration.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Lactobacillus Ferment

Probiotic ferment filtrate for conditioning; complex mix, check allergens and preservative residues

Panthenol

Panthenol (vitamin B5) at 1–5%; moisturizing and reparative, supports barrier recovery

Saccharide Isomerate

Novel polyol humectant with skin feel improvement; high hydration, suitable for lightweight formulas.

D-Alpha Tocopherol

Not decoded yet

Allantoin

Skin soother at 0.5-2%; promotes cell regeneration

Olive Glycerides

Olive-derived mono/diglycerides as auxiliary O/W emulsifiers and emollients; screen olive-allergy risk.

Hydroxyacetophenone

Hydroxyacetophenone as antioxidant; often boosts Vitamin C, works in acidic pH.

Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract

Coconut fruit extract at 0.1–5%; moisturizing, caution for oily skin at high levels

Lactic Acid

AHA pH adjuster at 0.5-5%; exfoliation/humectancy, mild at low conc., irritating at high, avoid conflict with alkaline preservatives.

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Mild non-ionic emulsifier for O/W systems; cetyl ester structure may irritate sensitive skin, use at 0.5-3%.

Sodium Phytate

Chelating agent stabilizes metal ions to prevent oxidative degradation; also used in oral care, high safety profile.

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Undecane

Undecane; light aliphatic hydrocarbon emollient; high volatility, pair with occlusives, flammable

Lecithin

Phospholipid emulsifier at 1-5%; biocompatible, moisturizing/antioxidant, prone to oxidation (add TBHQ), mild for sensitive skin.

Tridecane

Tridecane, a long-chain alkane acting as emollient and solvent; petrochemical-derived, inert and low toxicity.

Sclerotium Gum

Non-ionic gum for gels; neutral pH, requires dissolution via heating or fine milling

Pullulan

Microbial polysaccharide for film forming and thickening; water-soluble film former used in capsules or moisturizing films.

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