Clarins Super Restorative Remodelling Serum Versus Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Isomethyl Ionone
PerfumingWater
Skin ConditioningBuddleja Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantButylphenyl Methylpropional
PerfumingC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientCaffeine
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarum Petroselinum Extract
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantCitric Acid
BufferingCitronellol
PerfumingDimethicone
EmollientDiospyros Kaki Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipsacus Sylvestris Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingHydrolyzed Linseed Extract
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingLinalool
PerfumingParfum
MaskingPEG-8
HumectantPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingPelvetia Canaliculata Extract
Skin ProtectingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativePolyacrylamide
Potassium Sorbate
PreservativePueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSiloxanetriol Alginate
Skin ConditioningSolanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentSorbic Acid
PreservativeStearyl Heptanoate
EmollientThymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantTromethamine
BufferingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Water, Buddleja Officinalis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caffeine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Carum Petroselinum Extract, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, CI 14700, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Dimethicone, Diospyros Kaki Fruit Extract, Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydrolyzed Linseed Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Isononyl Isononanoate, Laureth-7, Linalool, Parfum, PEG-8, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Potassium Sorbate, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Siloxanetriol Alginate, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sorbic Acid, Stearyl Heptanoate, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tromethamine
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialDimethicone
EmollientHydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingAscorbyl Glucoside
AntioxidantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeAdenosine
Skin ConditioningFaex Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingPEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSalicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
PerfumingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
Octyldodecanol
EmollientCitronellol
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Faex Extract, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Octyldodecanol, Citronellol, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid or alcohol, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinParfum 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 ParfumThis is a corn-derived ingredient that acts as an oil-in-water emulsifier. It's great at forming lightweight and elegant emulsions for "milky" products.
In dermal testing, undiluted PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate scored a primary irratation index of zero and human repeated insult patch tests at concentrations up to 80% showed no irritation or sensitization. Because of this low irritation score, you'll likely see it in products designed for the eye area.
You'll typically find it at 0.5-3% in formulations. It's also often paired with its sibling, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, to create stable and mild emulsion systems.
The yeast that causes fungal acne loves fats and oils with a carbon chain length between 11 and 24. This ingredient contains stearic acid, which has a chain length of 18. Due to this, we mark this ingredient as not safe for fungal acne.
Learn more about PEG-20 Methyl Glucose SesquistearatePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water