Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate Versus Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingAscorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningPEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingLimonene
Perfuming
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Octyldodecanol
Emollient
Citronellol
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, Faex Extract, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Octyldodecanol, Citronellol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Mandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Carnitine Hcl
HumectantSalicylic Acid
Masking
Farnesol
Perfuming
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Adipic Acid
BufferingFomes Officinalis Extract
Skin ProtectingOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Phytic Acid
Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningHamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Pentasodium Pentetate
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Quercetin
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Urea
Buffering
Isopropyl Jojobate
EmollientJojoba Alcohol
Emollient
Jojoba Esters
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingOctoxynol-9
EmulsifyingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Emollient
Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Abrasive
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentLavandula Angustifolia Extract
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRose Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Triethyl Citrate
Masking
Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Emollient
Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Coriandrum Sativum Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningBenzoic Acid
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, Butylene Glycol, Mandelic Acid, Carnitine Hcl, Salicylic Acid, Farnesol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Adipic Acid, Fomes Officinalis Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Phytic Acid, Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Bisabolol, Pentasodium Pentetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hexylresorcinol, Quercetin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Panthenol, Urea, Isopropyl Jojobate, Jojoba Alcohol, Jojoba Esters, Retinol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Hydroxide, Octoxynol-9, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Extract, Benzoic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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 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.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium 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 HyaluronateWater. 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
