Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum versus MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum .
Published on March 03, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum 31 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum 31 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum 31 ingredients
Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Lactic Acid • Squalane • Glycerin • Sodium Hydroxide • Cetearyl Olivate • Propanediol • Sorbitan Olivate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Lespedeza Capitata Leaf/Stem Extract • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Acacia Senegal Gum • Sodium Gluconate • Xanthan Gum • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil • Linalool
Palmaria Palmata Extract • Lactic Acid • Water • Pentylene Glycol • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Cetearyl Olivate • Squalane • Silybum Marianum Seed Oil • Glycerin • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Sodium Hydroxide • Gluconolactone • Bellis Perennis Flower/Helichrysum Italicum Extract • Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract • Algae Extract • Gigartina Stellata Extract • Chondrus Crispus Extract • Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Salicornia Herbacea Extract • Limonium Gerberi Extract • Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil • Oenothera Biennis Oil • Borago Officinalis Seed Oil • Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil • Sclerotium Gum • Xanthan Gum • Caprylhydroxamic Acid • Sodium Phytate • Potassium Sorbate • Citric Acid
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
Lactic 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 AcidBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.
Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.
Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.
Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).
In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.
Is squalane vegan? This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.
Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.
Read more about squalene with an "e".
Learn more about SqualaneBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
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 GlycerinBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Cetearyl Olivate is an emulsifier and texture enhancer. It is derived from the fatty acids of olive oil and Cetearyl alcohol, and is biodegradable.
As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent oils and waters from separating. It can also
Manufacturers use the name Olivem 1000. This ingredient has been found to preserve the natural microbiome of skin. Having a healthy microbiome helps keep our skin healthy and protects against harmful bacteria. This ingredient is grouped with Sorbitan Olivate under the name Olivem 1000.
Learn more about Cetearyl OlivateBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumBiossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum 31 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum 19 ingredients
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum 31 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum 31 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 6 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to MARA Beauty Plankton + PHA™ Flower Acid Algae Serum.
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