Obagi Professional-C Serum 15%

Obagi Professional-C Serum 15%
5.0
/ 10
Moisturizing
10.0 Humectancy icon Humectancy
0.0 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
2.5Anti-wrinkle icon/ 10
Anti-wrinkle
Rich
in Antioxidants
$$$$

Review

Results you may expect from using Obagi Professional-C Serum 15%:

Based on the ingredient analysis by CreamScan, these are the key benefits you can expect from using Obagi Professional-C Serum 15%:

  • Moderate moisturizing. It has a moisturizing rating of 5.0 out of 10.
  • Some anti-wrinkle efficacy: Obagi Professional-C Serum 15% has an anti-wrinkle rating of 2.5 out of 10 so you may expect some, although limited, effect on wrinkles.
  • Antioxidant protection.

How moisturizing is it?

Quite moisturizing: Obagi Professional-C Serum 15% has a moisturizing rating of 5.0 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? It is purely humectant. It has zero occlusivity (we didn't find any occlusive ingredients on the ingredient list) and a maximum humectancy of 10 out of 10, entirely due to the high content of Propylene Glycol (est. ≈47.5%).Tip: Studies suggest that humectants alone do not moisturize the skin. We recommend applying a product with some occlusive ingredients after the use of this one.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Anti-wrinkle efficacy

According to CreamScan analysis, Obagi Professional-C Serum 15% has a slight anti-wrinkle rating of 2.5 out of 10. It contains one ingredient with proven anti-wrinkle efficacy: Ascorbic Acid (est. ≈15.0%), 
or Vitamin C, a popular anti-wrinkle ingredient, yet with average efficacy confirmed by only one study.
Among others, Obagi Professional-C Serum 15% also contains Ascorbyl Glucoside, an ingredient marketed as effective in reducing wrinkles. However, the studies supporting the anti-wrinkle claims of Ascorbyl Glucoside provide insufficient evidence of its efficacy according to CreamScan Research Evaluation Standards. Therefore, this ingredient does not contribute to the anti-wrinkle rating.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the anti-wrinkle rating calculation.

Antioxidant benefits

We estimate that Obagi Professional-C Serum 15% is rich (> 3%) in antioxidants, specifically Ascorbic Acid (est. ≈15.0%) and Ascorbyl Glucoside (est. ≈4.6%).

A key benefit of antioxidants is their ability to reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals and therefore prevent accelerated skin aging. Studies also show that antioxidants can protect against environmental damage such as UV radiation and pollution, and help reduce inflammation and skin redness.

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
47.5
25.1
15
6.8
4.6
1
Est. %
Function:
Origin:
Function:
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Function:
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Ratings

All humectants
47.5
47.5
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
0.0
None
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
5.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 47.5 10
10.0
47.5
Occlusivity All occlusives 0.0 20
0.0
None
Moisturizing rating
5.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
None
All occlusives 0.0 20
0.0
All occlusives
0.0
None
Benchmark
20
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
47.5
All humectants 47.5 10
10
All humectants
47.5
47.5
Benchmark
10
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
2.5 /10 5 15 2.5
n/a
- 4.6 -
Total
2.5
Ascorbic Acid
2.5
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
2.5 /10
when present at, %
5
in this formula, est. %
15
Ascorbyl Glucoside
-
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
n/a
when present at, %
-
in this formula, est. %
4.6
Anti-wrinkle rating
2.5
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
15
4.6
All antioxidants 19.6 3 Rich in antioxidants
All antioxidants
19.6
Ascorbic Acid
15
Ascorbyl Glucoside
4.6
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Rating
None
All soothing 0 5 No
All soothing
0
None
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Propylene Glycol
Est. %47.5
Function
Origin
A clear, thick, odorless liquid of synthetic origin. Its main function is to stabilize cosmetic products exposed to varying temperatures. It is also a moderately strong humectant with similar properties to glycerin.
Water
Est. %25.1
Function
Origin
The most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Ascorbic Acid
Est. %15
Function
Origin

Also known as vitamin C, this multi-benefit ingredient has proven anti-wrinkle, antioxidant, and anti-pigmentation efficacy. It degrades easily when exposed to air and light, so it requires proper packaging to maintain its stability.

Alcohol
Est. %6.8
Function
Origin
An effective antimicrobial ingredient that kills bacteria, fungi, and even some viruses. It is also an excellent solvent and astringent. Alcohol helps to create lighter and less viscous products. It can, however, be dehydrating and skin-sensitizing.
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Est. %4.6
Function
Origin
A derivative of vitamin C. It is more stable and less irritating than ascorbic acid. There are unfortunately no clinical studies on ascorbyl glucoside’s anti-pigment or anti-acne efficacy alone.
Fragrance
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Under trade secret law, manufacturers have the right not to disclose what exactly went into the fragrance and use the unspecific word Fragrance or Parfum instead. Many fragrances are highly allergenic.