Lavera Barrier Balance Serum Versus Shani Darden Rescue Serum
Updated on January 21, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, 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
Lavera Barrier Balance Serum 21 ingredients
Shani Darden Rescue Serum 22 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Lavera Barrier Balance Serum 21 ingredients
Shani Darden Rescue Serum 22 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Sodium Lactate
BufferingLactobacillus
Skin ConditioningAmaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerophosphocholine
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Phenylpropanol
Masking
Sodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningLevulinic Acid
Perfuming
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Lactate, Lactobacillus, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Glycerophosphocholine, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Phenylpropanol, Sodium Levulinate, Levulinic Acid
Water
Skin ConditioningDicaprylyl Carbonate
EmollientPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Abrasive
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Lactate
BufferingSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Sclerotium Gum, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.
Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.
It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.
Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the “glue” that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they don’t penetrate as deeply. This means they’re less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skin’s microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the product’s pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPropanediol 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 hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.
This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.
High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.
Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.
Learn more about Sodium LactateWater. 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
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When to use
Lavera Barrier Balance Serum 21 ingredients
Shani Darden Rescue Serum 22 ingredients
