e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Hydrating Serum Versus e.l.f. cosmetics Holy Hydration! Thirst Burst Drops
This hydrating serum is formulated around Butyrospermum Parkii Butter and Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientDimethicone
Emollient
Steareth-21
CleansingSteareth-2
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Glycereth-26
Humectant
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tromethamine
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSynthetic Fluorphlogopite
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingErythritol
Humectant
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingHibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningTin Oxide
Abrasive
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic Colorant
CI 16035
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Erythritol, Disodium EDTA, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, CI 16035
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 GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient ester. It comes from cetearyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid.
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate is an emollient that adds a velvety feel to skin without being greasy or oily. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Disodium 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 GlycerinTromethamine (aka THAM) is a synthetic amino acid that shows up in skincare as a helper ingredient.
It functions as a pH adjuster to help neutralize acidic ingredients and set a formula's pH to the right spot.
This matters a lot because a lot of actives (like vitamin C) needs a specific pH to work well and feel comfortable on skin.
Concentration use ranges from 0.1-1.0% depending on the formula.
Learn more about TromethamineWater. 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
