Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum Versus Clarins Double Serum Complete Age-Defying Concentrate
This smoothing serum is formulated around Lactic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate to refine skin texture and brighten dull-looking skin.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Squalane and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Octyldodecyl Myristate
EmollientButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
PPG-24-Glycereth-24
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingC13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Polyaspartate
HumectantTrehalose
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingGlycyrrhetinic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Sucrose
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Polyacrylamide
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
BHT
Antioxidant
Disodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Dimethicone, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycereth-26, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Polyaspartate, Trehalose, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sucrose, Laureth-7, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Mica, CI 77891, CI 77491
Water
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Hexyl Laurate
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer
Parfum
Masking
Fructose
Humectant
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Escin
TonicTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Theobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract
Antioxidant
Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingButylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Antioxidant
Persea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables
Skin Conditioning
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantHippophae Rhamnoides Kernel Extract
MaskingSodium Lactate
Buffering
Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningOenothera Biennis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningHarungana Madagascariensis Extract
Skin ConditioningKalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract
MaskingMangifera Indica Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract
Astringent
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract
MaskingCoco-Glucoside
Cleansing
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Arundo Donax Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningJania Rubens Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingMalpighia Emarginata Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningArbutus Unedo Fruit Extract
Antioxidant
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
CI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Water, Squalane, Hexyl Laurate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Parfum, Fructose, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Escin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aesculus Hippocastanum Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Persea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Caramel, Hippophae Rhamnoides Kernel Extract, Sodium Lactate, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Harungana Madagascariensis Extract, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Mangifera Indica Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Arundo Donax Stem Extract, Jania Rubens Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Citrate, Malpighia Emarginata Seed Extract, Arbutus Unedo Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, CI 14700, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolDisodium 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 GlycerinPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateTocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.
Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.
It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.
One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.
Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.
Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.
The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.
Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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 Gum
