Estée Lauder Perfectionist CP+R Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum Versus Fresh Tea Elixir Skin Resilience Activating Serum
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Oligopeptide to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicColeus Forskohlii Root Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin ProtectingGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemia Extract
Skin ConditioningPantethine
EmollientAlgae Extract
EmollientChlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Boswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Collagen
Moisturising
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 40
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate
SurfactantLaureth-12
EmulsifyingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Beta-Sitosteryl Sulfate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone, Water, Polysilicone-11, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Artemia Extract, Pantethine, Algae Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Cholesterol, Squalane, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Glycine Soja Protein, Caffeine, Whey Protein, Linoleic Acid, Lecithin, Collagen, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Glycerin, Faex Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Phytosphingosine, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Polysorbate 40, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Zinc PCA, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isohexadecane, PEG-8, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 80, Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate, Laureth-12, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Beta-Sitosteryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Butylene Glycol Cocoate
Emulsifying
Cellulose
Absorbent
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Ethylcellulose
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Water, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isostearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Cellulose, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Maltodextrin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Ethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (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 ParfumPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPhytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin as a building block for ceramides.. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.
Phytosphingosine contributes to your skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.
Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.
Fun fact: Phytosphingosine is abundant in plants and fungi.
More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:
Learn more about PhytosphingosinePropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium 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 HydroxideTocopheryl 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
