algenist-genius ALGENIST GENIUS Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamin C+ 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. Water
2. Glycerin
3. Butylene Glycol
4. 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
5. Polymethylsilsesquioxane
6. Sodium Citrate
7. Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
8. Niacinamide
9. Ethoxydiglycol
10. Algae Exopolysaccharides
11. Chlorella Protothecoides Oil
12. Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
13. Citric Acid
14. Algae Extract
15. PEG-12 Dimethicone
16. Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
17. Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
18. Caprylyl Glycol
19. Xanthan Gum
20. Vegetable Collagen
21. Ethylhexylglycerin
22. Hexylene Glycol
23. Disodium EDTA
24. Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract
25. Sorbitan Isostearate
26. Polysorbate 60
27. Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
28. Carbomer
29. Polysorbate 20
30. Ceramide NP
31. Ceramide AP
32. Ceramide Eop
33. Phytosphingosine
34. Cholesterol
35. Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
36. Phenoxyethanol
37. Fragrance
38. Coumarin

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains siliconesContains PEGContains fragranceContains animal-derivedContains EU-26 allergens

Key ingredients

ANTIPLAQUE

Water

DENATURANT

Glycerin

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

SKIN CONDITIONING

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

OPACIFYING

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

BUFFERING

Sodium Citrate

EMULSION STABILISING

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

SMOOTHING

Niacinamide

Other ingredients

EthoxydiglycolAlgae ExopolysaccharidesChlorella Protothecoides OilVinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane CrosspolymerCitric AcidAlgae ExtractPEG-12 DimethiconePalmitoyl OligopeptidePalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7Caprylyl GlycolXanthan GumVegetable CollagenEthylhexylglycerinHexylene GlycolDisodium EDTAPlantago Lanceolata Leaf ExtractSorbitan IsostearatePolysorbate 60Sodium Lauroyl LactylateCarbomerPolysorbate 20Ceramide NPCeramide APCeramide EopPhytosphingosineCholesterolLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltratePhenoxyethanolFragranceCoumarin

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water

Primary solvent and base; requires preservative system to prevent microbial growth

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Water-soluble Vitamin C derivative; more stable than ascorbic acid, sensitive to metals and alkali.

Polymethylsilsesquioxane

Silicone polymer for emolliency, matte effect, and suspension; used in foundations or powder suspensions, typical usage 1-5%, smooth skin feel.

Sodium Citrate

Sodium citrate for buffering and chelating; adjust pH, careful with strong acid reactions.

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

High-molecular-weight thickener and emulsion stabilizer; requires electrolytes or acid adjustment near isoelectric point for optimal performance.

Niacinamide

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

Ethoxydiglycol

Ethoxydiglycol; high-perf solv/humectant; low irrit, EU limit 20%, watch total PEG load

Algae Exopolysaccharides

Not decoded yet

Chlorella Protothecoides Oil

Not decoded yet

Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer

Rheology-modifying silicone polymer for suspension and feel; requires silicone-compatible system

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Algae Extract

Algae extract with humectant and conditioning effects; may contain natural fragrant components.

PEG-12 Dimethicone

Water-soluble silicone; provides slip and gloss, easily emulsified, common in hair and skin care.

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Palmitoyl oligopeptide for firming; water-soluble bioactive peptide, avoid high heat, functional additive.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 boosts collagen; use 0.1–1%, formulate with lipid carriers

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Xanthan Gum

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

Vegetable Collagen

Plant-based collagen analog for moisturizing and conditioning; large molecule, mostly surface-acting.

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Hexylene Glycol

Polyol solvent and humectant with penetration enhancement; limit concentration to avoid irritation, no specific allergen tag

Disodium EDTA

Chelating agent at 0.05–0.5%; sequesters metal ions for stability, boosts preservative efficacy

Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract

Plantain leaf extract for antimicrobial and astringent use; plant extract with variable potency, patch test for sensitive skin.

Sorbitan Isostearate

Non-ionic emulsifier (low HLB); typically used in blends, low comedogenicity, soft skin feel.

Polysorbate 60

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer for O/W or W/O stability; may cause mild stinging on sensitive skin, typically 1-5%.

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Mild emulsifier at 1–5%; suitable for sensitive skin, mind cationic surfactant compatibility

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Polysorbate 20

Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.

Ceramide NP

Ceramide N3 for barrier repair; lipophilic, needs oil phase or emulsion, avoid high standalone use.

Ceramide AP

Ceramide analog for barrier repair; best results when combined with cholesterol and free fatty acids

Ceramide Eop

Ceramide EOP, repairs skin barrier lipids; often blended with cholesterol and fatty acids.

Phytosphingosine

Phytosphingosine barrier repair ingredient, 0.1–1%; water-soluble, good for dry skin.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol; barrier repair lipid mimicking stratum corneum; often blended with ceramides, plant or fermentation source.

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

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

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Fragrance

Fragrance; concentration must control allergen risk, label specific components

Coumarin

Classic fragrance and photosensitizer, EU restriction III/77; high allergen risk, limit in facial products

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