Meebak Cica Serum Versus The Ordinary "Buffet"
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningMethylpropanediol
SolventGlycerin
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Polysilicone-11
Raffinose
Skin ConditioningSaccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCentella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Diphenyl Dimethicone
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingMadecassoside
Antioxidant
Polyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningParfum
Masking
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningAlgae Extract
EmollientEclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Berry Extract
Skin Conditioning
Monascus Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycosyl Trehalose
Emulsion StabilisingHydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantArgania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Emollient
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Emulsifying
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tromethamine
BufferingWater, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Polysilicone-11, Raffinose, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Triethylhexanoin, Madecassoside, Polyquaternium-51, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Oryza Sativa Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Algae Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Berry Extract, Monascus Extract, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Adenosine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-12, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipropylene Glycol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Beta-Glucan, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Fructooligosaccharides, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Retinol, Cholesterol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tromethamine
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Pentapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Skin Conditioning
Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Histidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Trehalose
Humectant
Fructose
Humectant
Glucose
Humectant
Maltose
MaskingUrea
Buffering
Sodium PCA
Humectant
PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Acacia Senegal Gum
MaskingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
PPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Ethoxydiglycol
HumectantSodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Water, Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Carbomer is a high-molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. It is used to form gels and thicken formulas.
Due to its large molecular size, carbomer has minimal skin penetration and is considered an inert ingredient.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Learn more about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinSodium 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 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 Gum
