15% Vitamin C & Mandarin Glow Boost Serum
A high-dose stable vitamin C serum with good formula logic, but the Rosa Damascena fragrance allergens in a leave-on and the undisclosed Ethoxydiglycol penetration enhancement are material gaps the brand should address.
- You have fragrance sensitivities
- You are new to active skincare - patch test first
Rs. 599 - Rs. 790 • Analysed 10 June 2026
A 15% stable vitamin C derivative is a strong dose for daily brightening in India's hyperpigmentation-prone population. Ethyl Ascorbic Acid outperforms L-ascorbic acid in stability during India's high heat and humidity. The Ethoxydiglycol CPE boosts active penetration but also means co-formulated sensitisers penetrate deeper. The lack of Ferulic Acid is a missed opportunity for photo-synergy under India's UV Index 8-11+. Apply in the evening.
This is a web evidence review, not a Clean Sheet certification. We checked the ingredient list, publicly available test reports, marketing claims, and formula logic using only public information available at the time of review.
At a glance
What was checked
Each claim checked against publicly available evidence: published test reports, the ingredient list, and regulatory data.
Brand explicitly states 15% 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid on label.
Vitamin C mechanism for melanin inhibition is established, but no formula-specific study has been published.
Rosa Damascena extract and Benzyl Alcohol are sources of fragrance allergens. The product is not fragrance-free.
Score breakdown
Public Evidence Score across 5 pillars. Open any row for the full rationale.
Ingredient SafetyGood22/30Rosa Damascena (Rose) extract is included in this leave-on serum.
Rosa Damascena (Rose) extract is included in this leave-on serum. Rose extract is a botanical that naturally contains fragrance compounds, including geraniol, citronellol, farnesol, and linalool, which are among the most frequently cited causes of skin reactions in cosmetics. Their presence in a daily leave-on product is a meaningful safety consideration that is not communicated to consumers. Ethoxydiglycol, appearing relatively early in the ingredient list, is a confirmed penetration enhancer that increases how deeply all co-formulated actives absorb into the skin. Benzyl Alcohol serves a dual role here as both preservative and fragrance allergen. No synthetic Parfum is added, no parabens, no EU Annex II banned substances. As a leave-on formula, allergen exposure is daily and continuous.
Formula LogicGood18/25Ethyl Ascorbic Acid at 15% is a meaningful dose of a photostable, heat-stable vitamin C derivative, well-suited to India's climate where L-ascorbic acid degrades quickly.
Ethyl Ascorbic Acid at 15% is a meaningful dose of a photostable, heat-stable vitamin C derivative, well-suited to India's climate where L-ascorbic acid degrades quickly. Kakadu Plum adds natural antioxidant synergy. The formula is otherwise clean and purposeful. One meaningful gap: the most clinically studied vitamin C formulas combine ascorbic acid with Ferulic Acid and Vitamin E, which roughly doubles the antioxidant and photoprotective efficacy. Neither is present here. Ethoxydiglycol's penetration-enhancing effect may improve vitamin C delivery into skin, but it also increases the extent to which the rose extract's allergen components absorb.
Claims EvidenceFair14/25The 15% vitamin C concentration is disclosed on-label, which is above the Indian market average for transparency.
The 15% vitamin C concentration is disclosed on-label, which is above the Indian market average for transparency. The full INCI is published on the brand website. No active concentrations are disclosed beyond the vitamin C. The fragrance allergens present from Rosa Damascena are not communicated anywhere in the product communications. Mandarin Peel's phototoxicity risk for daytime use is not flagged. No clinical study for this formula has been published.
Test TransparencyGrade CFair7/15No independent clinical study, efficacy test, or safety assessment is publicly accessible for this product.
No independent clinical study, efficacy test, or safety assessment is publicly accessible for this product. The disclosed 15% concentration is a positive baseline transparency step. No published study supports the brightening claims specific to this formula.
Consumer ClarityGood3/5The 15% vitamin C concentration is clearly communicated.
The 15% vitamin C concentration is clearly communicated. Ethoxydiglycol's penetration-enhancing mechanism is not explained to consumers. The fragrance allergen content of Rosa Damascena and Benzyl Alcohol's dual preservative-allergen role are not disclosed. Evening use guidance is not prominent.
Ingredient list
18 ingredients · INCI order
| Ingredient |
|---|
Aqua |
Ethyl Ascorbic Acid |
Propanediol |
Betaine |
Isodecyl Neopentanoate |
Ethoxy Diglycol |
Sodium Citrate |
Citric Acid |
Show all 18 ingredientsShow fewer
Citrus Reticulata (Mandarin) Peel Extract |
Terminalia Ferdinandiana (Kakadu Plum) Fruit Extract |
Rosa Damascena (Rose) Extract |
Benzyl Alcohol |
Hydroxyacetophenone |
Caprylyl Glycol |
Trilaureth-4 Phosphate |
Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate |
Xanthan Gum |
Sodium Gluconate |
INCI order as declared on packaging. Position reflects approximate concentration (high to low).
Regulatory screen
Each ingredient mapped against 10 global regulatory authorities
No banned substances; Rosa Damascena contains allergens requiring labelling above 0.01% in leave-on products under EU 2023/1545
No flagged substances
No flagged substances
No flagged substances
No flagged substances
No flagged substances
No flagged substances
No flagged substances
No flagged substances
No flagged substances
Flags are based on publicly available INCI only. Not a substitute for full regulatory compliance review.
Claims check
Each marketing claim assessed against publicly available evidence
Brand explicitly states 15% 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid on label.
Evidence visible
Vitamin C mechanism for melanin inhibition is established, but no formula-specific study has been published.
Mentioned only
Rosa Damascena extract and Benzyl Alcohol are sources of fragrance allergens. The product is not fragrance-free.
Missing
What would improve this score
Public evidence the brand could provide to close verification gaps
- ○Ferulic Acid and Vitamin E absent - photoprotective synergy significantly reduced vs. established antioxidant triples
- ○Rose extract fragrance allergens not disclosed to consumers
- ○Ethoxydiglycol penetration-enhancing mechanism not communicated
- ○Mandarin peel phototoxicity risk not flagged
- ○No clinical study published for this formula
A high-dose stable vitamin C serum with good formula logic, but the Rosa Damascena fragrance allergens in a leave-on and the undisclosed Ethoxydiglycol penetration enhancement are material gaps the brand should address.
Full methodology
- What global regulations say about each ingredient
- What toxicology evidence shows at cosmetic concentrations
- What formula concentration context changes
- What the product format and leave-on contact time changes
- What the stated user group needs
- What published test evidence confirms
- What the brand is claiming vs what evidence supports
