Elixir The Serum Versus Astalift Jelly Conditioner
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Tranexamic Acid
AstringentHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantHypericum Perforatum Extract
AntimicrobialSoluble Collagen
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantDipropylene Glycol
HumectantAlcohol
AntimicrobialPEG-32
HumectantPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientMaltitol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientErythritol
HumectantPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-3 Laurate
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAcrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer
PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether
StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
CleansingInositol
HumectantSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantOlea Europaea Leaf Extract
PerfumingRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
MaskingAlgae Extract
EmollientArginine Hcl
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein
Skin ConditioningPerilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract
TonicNasturtium Officinale Extract
PerfumingCoix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingTranexamic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Soluble Collagen, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol, PEG-32, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Maltitol, Dimethicone, Erythritol, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Carbomer, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Inositol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Algae Extract, Arginine Hcl, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantButylene Glycol
HumectantMethyl Gluceth-10
EmulsifyingDipropylene Glycol
HumectantBis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate
EmollientCeramide EOP
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialHydrolyzed Algin
Aspalathus Linearis Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentVaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract
AstringentCholesterol
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientC10-30 Alkyl Acrylate
Polyglyceryl-5 Myristate
EmulsifyingLecithin
EmollientSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeMethylparaben
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Dipropylene Glycol, Bis-Ethoxydiglycol Cyclohexane 1,4-Dicarboxylate, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Allantoin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate, Polyglyceryl-5 Myristate, Lecithin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
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 GlycolDipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.
This ingredient helps:
Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinPhenoxyethanol 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 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