Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum Versus La Mer The Revitalizing Hydrating Serum
Updated on July 19, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 18 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols and silicones
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
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum 45 ingredients
La Mer The Revitalizing Hydrating Serum 93 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum 45 ingredients
La Mer The Revitalizing Hydrating Serum 93 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningPEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicSea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCaffeine
Skin ConditioningPantethine
EmollientHydrolyzed Soy Protein
HumectantPEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Algae Extract
Emollient
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lecithin
EmollientIsohexadecane
EmollientDi-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPolymethyl Methacrylate
Coconut Acid
Cleansing
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningNordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSilica
Abrasive
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingAscorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantIron Oxides
Mica
Cosmetic Colorant
Dimethicone, Water, Polysilicone-11, Alcohol Denat., Acetyl Glucosamine, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Caffeine, Pantethine, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Algae Extract, Polysorbate 20, Salicylic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Lecithin, Isohexadecane, Di-C12-18 Alkyl Dimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 80, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Coconut Acid, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Silica, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Maleate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77891, Iron Oxides, Mica
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Algae Extract
Emollient
Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingSucrose
HumectantLimnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
Emollient
Medicago Sativa Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seedcake
Abrasive
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal
Abrasive
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Sodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCopper Gluconate
Skin ConditioningCalcium Gluconate
HumectantMagnesium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Succinate
Antioxidant
Niacin
Smoothing
Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
Cleansing
Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract
Skin ConditioningCodium Tomentosum Extract
Skin ProtectingPolygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract
Antioxidant
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract
Antimicrobial
Humulus Lupulus Extract
AntimicrobialCitrus Reticulata Peel Extract
Skin ConditioningAsparagopsis Armata Extract
Skin ProtectingSalicornia Herbacea Extract
Skin ConditioningAlcaligenes Polysaccharides
EmollientGlucose
HumectantPorphyridium Cruentum Extract
Skin ConditioningSigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSqualane
Emollient
Cholesterol
Emollient
Caffeine
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningAscophyllum Nodosum Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Digitata Extract
Skin ProtectingMaris Sal
Skin ConditioningCastanea Sativa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPlankton Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Trehalose
HumectantLactoperoxidase
StabilisingDimethicone
Emollient
Lecithin
EmollientDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPunica Granatum Fruit Juice
MaskingGlucose Oxidase
StabilisingLinolenic Acid
Cleansing
Hydrolyzed Rice Extract
Skin ConditioningLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingYeast Extract
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Glucosamine
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Masking
Glycosaminoglycans
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantTourmaline
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Sorbitol
Humectant
Urea
Buffering
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin ConditioningEthylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride
Antioxidant
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingMagnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Antioxidant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Amyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Coumarin
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
CI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantCI 14700
Cosmetic ColorantButylene Glycol, Glycerin, Algae Extract, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Glucose, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Squalane, Cholesterol, Caffeine, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Maris Sal, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Plankton Extract, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Trehalose, Lactoperoxidase, Dimethicone, Lecithin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycine Soja Protein, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Juice, Glucose Oxidase, Linolenic Acid, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Yeast Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Bisabolol, Glycosaminoglycans, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium PCA, Tourmaline, Linoleic Acid, Sorbitol, Urea, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyquaternium-51, Ethylbisiminomethylguaiacol Manganese Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol Denat., Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Amyl Cinnamal, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Limonene, Coumarin, Linalool, CI 42090, CI 14700
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
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 DimethiconeAlcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin.
The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells.
When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.
Learn more about Acetyl GlucosamineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract comes from rosemary. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean.
While Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil can be volatile due to its fragrant properties, the fragrance components are usually removed in the leaf extract.
Rosemary Leaf Extract can help protect your skin against damage from free-radical molecules. It contains many antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid.
Rosemarinic acid has been found to help soothe skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf ExtractWe don't have a description for Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract yet.
We don't have a description for Laminaria Saccharina Extract yet.
Caffeine is most associated with coffee, tea, and cacao. In skincare, it helps with calming inflammation and is rich in antioxidants.
While caffeine is used to treat cellulite and and dark circles, further studies are needed to prove this. It has been believed to help with these skin conditions due to its ability to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Some studies are looking into caffeine's ability to protect against UV rays.
Learn more about CaffeineAlgae Extract is a confusing name. This is because algae is an informal term for a group of 30,000 aquatic organisms that can photosynthesize.
The term 'algae extract' can refer to any one, or a blend of, the 30,000 types.
Algae is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Algae can also help with soothing and hydrating skin.
Many different types of algae have different benefits.
Learn more about Algae ExtractTocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.
One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.
Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.
Learn more about Tocopheryl AcetateSodium 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 HyaluronateGlycerin 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 GlycerinLecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.
This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.
As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.
As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.
This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.
Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.
We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.
Learn more about LecithinHydrogenated Lecithin is created from the hydrogenation of lecithin (a group of phospholipids). Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between hydrogen and another element.
This ingredient is an emollient and emulsifier. As an emollient, it helps soften skin by trapping moisture within. As an emulsifier, it prevents oil and water ingredients from separating.
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid is an antioxidant.
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 HydroxideDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAPhenoxyethanol 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.
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