Face Reality Skincare Hydraremedy Gel Serum Versus Handmade Heroes The Ultimate Snow Shroom HA Serum
This hydrating serum is formulated around Beta-Glucan and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and calm redness.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and calm redness.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingBisabolol
AntioxidantSucrose Stearate
EmollientXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingInulin
Skin ConditioningXylitol
HumectantArnica Montana Flower Extract
MaskingMadecassic Acid
Skin ConditioningAsiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
AbsorbentHydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract
AntioxidantDimethicone
EmollientPropanediol
SolventPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Phytate
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ceramide NP, Lactobacillus Ferment, Panthenol, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Bisabolol, Sucrose Stearate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Inulin, Xylitol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phytate, Pentylene Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
PerfumingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningLonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningTremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Emulsion StabilisingTamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Phytate
Sodium Bicarbonate
AbrasiveMelia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin ConditioningCoccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Flower Extract
EmollientOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract
TonicCurcuma Longa Root Extract
AntioxidantWater, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract
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 GlycerinThis ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronatePentylene 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 GlycolPropanediol 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 Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
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 Water