ISANA Calming Barrier Serum Versus Balea Beauty Expert Calming Serum
Updated on February 03, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
ISANA Calming Barrier Serum 24 ingredients
Balea Beauty Expert Calming Serum 23 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
ISANA Calming Barrier Serum 24 ingredients
Balea Beauty Expert Calming Serum 23 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Octyldodecanol
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Distarch Phosphate
AbsorbentDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPectin
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Lauryl Alcohol
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningChondrus Crispus Powder
Abrasive
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Cyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningSphingolipids
EmollientSodium Citrate
BufferingP-Anisic Acid
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Niacinamide, Distarch Phosphate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Xanthan Gum, Pectin, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Dicaprylyl Ether, Lauryl Alcohol, Allantoin, Pentylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Madecassoside, Phospholipids, Cyanocobalamin, Sphingolipids, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Skin Conditioning
Inulin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingAlpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
CleansingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPotassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCeramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Citric Acid
Buffering
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Linoleic Acid, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Inulin, Phenoxyethanol, Sclerotium Gum, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Stearyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Linolenic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceramide Ng, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.
As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
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.
Phospholipids are naturally found in our skin as they are the main component of cell membranes. Phospholipids have humectant, emollient, antioxidant properties.
Phospholipids are complex lipids that contain glycerin, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group. Some foods that contain phospholipids include soybeans and milk. The phospholipids found in soy come from Lecithin. This ingredient can also be synthetically created.
Due to their hygroscopic nature, they act as both humectants and emollients. Humectants draw moisture from the air to your skin, while emollients help trap moisture in.
The phospholipids in our skin can be naturally depleted. Replenishing the phospholipids in our skin can help hydrate your skin.
Studies show phospholipids display antioxidant activity and may help with reducing the signs of aging.
This ingredient is non-occlusive.
Some types of phospholipids:
Learn more about PhospholipidsTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. 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. 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 GumIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
ISANA Calming Barrier Serum 24 ingredients
Balea Beauty Expert Calming Serum 23 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
