Avène Hydrance Boost Concentrated Hydrating Serum Versus Avène Hydrance Aqua-Gel
Updated on September 07, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens or parabens
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Avène Hydrance Boost Concentrated Hydrating Serum 16 ingredients
Avène Hydrance Aqua-Gel 27 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Avène Hydrance Boost Concentrated Hydrating Serum 16 ingredients
Avène Hydrance Aqua-Gel 27 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingBetaine
Humectant
Methyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPolyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBHT
Antioxidant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingC14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
Buffering
Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil
Emollient
Parfum
Masking
Phytosterols
Skin ConditioningPotassium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Dextran Sulfate
Gel Forming
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
Tocopheryl Glucoside
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dimethicone, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Triethylhexanoin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, BHT, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, C14-22 Alcohols, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Parfum, Phytosterols, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Water
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene Glycol1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateBetaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.
This ingredient is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies also show it helps even out skin tone.
Fun fact: Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The kind found within cosmetic products can be either plant-derived or synthetic.
Learn more about BetaineCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Avène Hydrance Boost Concentrated Hydrating Serum 16 ingredients
Avène Hydrance Aqua-Gel 27 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Avène Hydrance Boost Concentrated Hydrating Serum 16 ingredients
Avène Hydrance Aqua-Gel 27 ingredients
Incredible.
Amazing texture and feeling on skin. Nice subtle smell, hydrating. But unfortunately doesn’t work for my sensitive skin, there are too many irritating ingredients.
