physicians-formula Physicians Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot - Brightening

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/Eau
2. Butylene Glycol
3. Niacinamide
4. Glycerin
5. Acetyl Glucosamine
6. Pentylene Glycol
7. 1,2-Hexanediol
8. Caprylyl Glycol
9. Carbomer
10. Disodium Edta
11. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
12. Phenylethyl Resorcinol
13. Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
14. Sodium Hydroxide
15. Chondrus Crispus Extract
16. Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
17. 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
18. Iron Oxides
19. Tocopheryl Acetate
20. Phenoxyethanol
21. Vegetable Collagen
22. Agar
23. Calcium Alginate
24. Xanthan Gum
25. Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
26. Hydroxyacetophenone
27. Glucosyl Hesperidin
28. Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
29. Sodium Hyaluronate
30. Tropolone
31. Gluconolactone
32. Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
33. Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract
34. Red 30
35. Sodium Benzoate

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of fragranceFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of formaldehyde releasersContains essential oils

Key ingredients

溶剂

Water/Eau

HUMECTANT

Butylene Glycol

SMOOTHING

Niacinamide

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SKIN CONDITIONING

Acetyl GlucosaminePentylene Glycol1,2-Hexanediol

DEODORANT

Caprylyl Glycol

Other ingredients

CarbomerDisodium EdtaDipotassium GlycyrrhizatePhenylethyl ResorcinolCaesalpinia Spinosa Fruit ExtractSodium HydroxideChondrus Crispus ExtractSodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic AcidIron OxidesTocopheryl AcetatePhenoxyethanolVegetable CollagenAgarCalcium AlginateXanthan GumKappaphycus Alvarezii ExtractHydroxyacetophenoneGlucosyl HesperidinLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltrateSodium HyaluronateTropoloneGluconolactoneGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractCynara Scolymus Leaf ExtractRed 30Sodium Benzoate

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Water/Eau

Water as base solvent; no irritation, but requires preservatives to prevent microbial growth.

Butylene Glycol

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

Niacinamide

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

Glycerin

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

Acetyl Glucosamine

Glycosaminoglycan precursor supporting skin hydration and elasticity; highly biocompatible.

Pentylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin

1,2-Hexanediol

Polyol solvent and preservative booster at 1–5%; light feel, can replace some traditional preservatives

Caprylyl Glycol

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

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Disodium Edta

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

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate for moisturizing/soothing; inhibits 5-LOX, water-soluble, for sensitive skin.

Phenylethyl Resorcinol

Phenylethyl resorcinol, antioxidant/whitening at 0.1–1%; inhibits tyrosinase, watch compatibility with high-dose VC.

Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract

Plant extract for skin protection; contains antioxidants, may need stabilizers at high conc.

Sodium Hydroxide

Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Carrageenan for thickening and moisturizing; seaweed-based, pH-sensitive

Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate

UV-B absorber, often as photostabilizer; 0.1–0.5% active; water-soluble, requires stable pairing

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

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

Iron Oxides

Inorganic pigment for color; particulate form, inhalation risk low in cosmetics.

Tocopheryl Acetate

Vitamin E derivative antioxidant at 0.1–1%; more stable than tocopherol, store protected from light

Phenoxyethanol

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

Vegetable Collagen

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

Agar

Natural polysaccharide gelling agent for thickening and suspension; may gel at high levels, avoid cationic systems

Calcium Alginate

Natural polysaccharide used as thickener and gel base; usually food-grade, but listed as fragrance here, verify supply chain origin.

Xanthan Gum

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

Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract

Seaweed polysaccharide; film forming and moisturizing; provides gel texture; gentle.

Hydroxyacetophenone

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

Glucosyl Hesperidin

Flavonoid glycoside, antioxidant, improves circulation, non-irritating.

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

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

Sodium Hyaluronate

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

Tropolone

Natural phenolic compound used as a skin conditioner; strong antioxidant activity, often a fragrance alternative.

Gluconolactone

Multifunctional agent for chelation and permeation; acidic, may irritate at high levels, buffer recommended.

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Liquorice root extract for soothing and brightening; batch variability, watch polyphenol interactions

Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract

Artichoke leaf extract for skin conditioning; often in botanical blends.

Red 30

Synthetic azo dye for coloring; subject to regulatory limits, ensure compliance

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

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