Allies of Skin Beta Glucan & Resveratrol Advanced Hydrating Serum Versus Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum
This hydrating serum is formulated around Beta-Glucan and Ceramide NP to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
EmollientEthyl Macadamiate
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPunica Granatum Seed Oil
EmollientLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
AntimicrobialC10-18 Triglycerides
EmollientMethylheptylglycerin
HumectantRubus Idaeus Seed Oil
EmollientBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCarnosine
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract
Skin ConditioningPunica Granatum Extract
AstringentPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantBisabolol
AntioxidantHoney
HumectantPhospholipids
Skin ConditioningCassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide
Skin ConditioningCandelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
EmulsifyingHyaluronic Acid
HumectantEpigallocatechin Gallate
AntioxidantMadecassoside
AntioxidantAsiaticoside
AntioxidantSuperoxide Dismutase
AntioxidantLecithin
EmollientPullulan
Sphingolipids
EmollientOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantAscorbyl Palmitate
AntioxidantAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Polygamma-Glutamate
Emulsion StabilisingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingHydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPropanediol
SolventCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Dehydroacetate
PreservativePolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Stearoyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSilica
AbrasiveMalic Acid
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Glycerin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Caprylyl Glycol, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Methylheptylglycerin, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Beta-Glucan, Carnosine, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Pichia/Resveratrol Ferment Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Bisabolol, Honey, Phospholipids, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Hyaluronic Acid, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Superoxide Dismutase, Lecithin, Pullulan, Sphingolipids, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Astaxanthin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Polygamma-Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Polysorbate 20, Silica, Malic Acid, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinLeuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is a natural preservative. It comes from fermenting radish roots with a bacteria called leuconostoc. The trade name for this ingredient is Leucidal.
Leuconostoc comes from lactic acid.
This ingredient has antimicrobial properties and helps prevent the growth of bacteria in a product.
Leuconostoc is used to make the traditional Korean side-dish, kimchi. It is also used to make sourdough bread (both incredibly yummy foods).
Learn more about Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment FiltratePhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water