Clarins Puts Vitamin C and Glycolic Acid in One Bottle by Keeping Them Apart

Vitamin C and glycolic acid are usually sold as separate steps, partly because they behave differently in a formula. Clarins' Multi-Active Glow Serum, which arrived in early 2026, tries to combine them in a single 30 ml bottle by storing them in two separate layers that you mix by shaking before each use. Once shaken, the brand says, the formula turns into tiny pink beads.

The vitamin C here is ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, an oil-soluble derivative that is valued for stability rather than speed. Glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, handles exfoliation and texture. Clarins adds acerola seed extract from organically grown plants as an antioxidant and hydrating extra. The brand presents the vitamin C as the tone-evening, radiance part of the formula and the AHA as the smoothing part.

Clarins' own testing claims immediate results of 27% more brightness, 30% smoother skin and 21% more even tone, rising to 45% more brightness and 17% less visible pores after 28 days. It also cites a 24-hour hydration test on 30 women. These are brand figures, and the larger study sizes are not listed on the product page.

Because it contains an AHA, the serum can make skin more sensitive to the sun. Clarins advises sunscreen during use and for a week after stopping. If you already use a separate acid toner or retinoid, adding this on top may be too much exfoliation for some skin types.

On Clarins' US site the serum costs $68 for 1 oz and carried 1,523 reviews when we checked. We could not find an Indian listing or rupee price, so it is not in our rankings.