Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Serum Versus First Aid Beauty Bounce-Boosting Serum with Collagen + Peptides
This hydrating serum is formulated around Squalane and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Bakuchiol to soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Squalane
Emollient
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Propanediol
Solvent
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Tromethamine
BufferingPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Dextrin
AbsorbentHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
ChelatingBetaine
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant
Xylitol
Humectant
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Glucose
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Magnesium Chloride
Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate
Skin ConditioningUndaria Pinnatifida Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Propanediol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Dextrin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Disodium EDTA, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Glucose, Tocopherol, Magnesium Chloride, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
C9-12 Alkane
SolventSoluble Collagen
Humectant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Pentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hydroxyproline
EmollientSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Glycine
Buffering
Histidine
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Corn Protein
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Serine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Cetearyl Olivate
Threonine
Tyrosine
MaskingValine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
HumectantXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTetrasodium EDTA
ChelatingWater, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Soluble Collagen, Ceramide NP, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Pentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hydroxyproline, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bakuchiol, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Tocopherol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycine, Histidine, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Alanine, Sorbitan Olivate, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Arginine, Cetearyl Olivate, Threonine, Tyrosine, Valine, Aspartic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glutamic Acid, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolCarbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.
Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.
It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.
Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.
A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.
Learn more about CarbomerCetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier.
Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient.
It plays several roles in a formula:
Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products.
Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people.
However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers.
Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy.
Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe for humans.
Remember comedogenic ratings are unable to assess the entire formula of a product or how it will react on your skin. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure about certain ingredients.
This ingredient is not fungal acne safe. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with chain lengths that fall within the range that Malassezia can metabolize.
A 2019 study has also observed Malassezia growth in the presence of this ingredient, confirming it to be not-fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholGlycerin (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 GlycerinPropanediol 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 PropanediolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
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.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
