Biologique Recherche Sérum Grand Millésime Youth Elixir Versus Aesthetics Rx Ultimate Serum Brightening And Exfoliant
Updated on January 02, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, BHA, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and PHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols
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
Biologique Recherche Sérum Grand Millésime Youth Elixir 35 ingredients
Aesthetics Rx Ultimate Serum Brightening And Exfoliant 17 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Biologique Recherche Sérum Grand Millésime Youth Elixir 35 ingredients
Aesthetics Rx Ultimate Serum Brightening And Exfoliant 17 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
EmollientGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Silk
HumectantNiacinamide
Smoothing
Magnesium Chloride
Vinegar
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Yeast Extract
Skin Conditioning
Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract
Skin ProtectingAllium Cepa Bulb Extract
Skin ConditioningCommiphora Myrrha Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningMyrtus Communis Extract
AstringentRhizobian Gum
Pyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningThiamine Hcl
MaskingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Serine
MaskingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Tea-Lactate
HumectantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sorbitol
Humectant
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sorbic Acid
Preservative
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Gluconolactone, Hydrolyzed Silk, Niacinamide, Magnesium Chloride, Vinegar, Sodium Hyaluronate, Yeast Extract, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Allium Cepa Bulb Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Myrtus Communis Extract, Rhizobian Gum, Pyridoxine Hcl, Thiamine Hcl, Allantoin, Urea, Serine, Salicylic Acid, Tea-Lactate, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbitol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Alcohol
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Yeast Polysaccharides
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningCucumis Sativus Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningHibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Water, Alcohol Denat., Lactic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Yeast Polysaccharides, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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 WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinLactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidGluconolactone is a PHA. PHAs are a great gentle alternative to traditional AHAs.
When applied, Gluconolactone has the same affect on skin as AHAs such as lactic acid. It helps dissolve the dead skin cells in the top layer of your skin. This improves texture and brightens the skin.
PHAs are more gentle than AHAs due to their larger structure. They do not penetrate as deeply as AHAs and take a longer time to dissolve dead cells. Studies show PHAs do not cause as much irritation.
Gluconolactone has some interesting properties:
In a 2004 study, Gluconolactone was found to prevent UV damage in mouse skin cells and has not been found to increase sun sensitivity. However, we still recommend wearing SPF daily.
This ingredient is is an created by reacting gluconic acid with an alcohol.
Learn more about GluconolactoneNiacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideSodium 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 HyaluronateSalicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidCitric 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 AcidSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Biologique Recherche Sérum Grand Millésime Youth Elixir 35 ingredients
Aesthetics Rx Ultimate Serum Brightening And Exfoliant 17 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Biologique Recherche Sérum Grand Millésime Youth Elixir 35 ingredients
Aesthetics Rx Ultimate Serum Brightening And Exfoliant 17 ingredients
Incredible for this 40 year old. It's tingly and dies sting a touch but not too bad and boy it makes your texture reduce, hyperpigmentation is reduced, pores are unclogged and reduced. Best my skin has ever looked.
