innisfree Green Tea Seed Intensive Hydrating Serum Versus Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Smooths, Restores, Corrects Face Serum
This hydrating serum is formulated around Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Acetyl Glucosamine and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 to soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Betaine
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Cetearyl Olivate
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingParfum
Masking
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingCeratonia Siliqua Gum
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
ChelatingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Dextrin
AbsorbentTheobroma Cacao Extract
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sucrose
Humectant
Water, Propanediol, Alcohol, Glycerin, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Saccharide Isomerate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sucrose
Water
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Methyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
Polysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Silica
Abrasive
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
Polysilicone-11
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicAcetyl Glucosamine
Skin Conditioning
Plankton Extract
Skin ConditioningWhey Protein
Skin ConditioningSea Whip Extract
Skin ConditioningArabidopsis Thaliana Extract
Antioxidant
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Micrococcus Lysate
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLecithin
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPEG-8
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Trimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycerin, Silica, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polysilicone-11, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Plankton Extract, Whey Protein, Sea Whip Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Caffeine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glycine Soja Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Micrococcus Lysate, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Ergothioneine, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lecithin, Carbomer, PEG-8, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidDisodium 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 EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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
