Updated on July 18, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
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
Meebak Cica Serum 59 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 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
Meebak Cica Serum 59 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
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 ConditioningPolysilicone-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
Emollient
Eclipta 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
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Disodium EDTA
Laureth-12
EmulsifyingLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingArgania 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
EmulsifyingRetinol
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 ConditioningAcetyl 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
MaskingSerine
Masking
Valine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
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
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingSodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAcacia 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
EmollientEthylhexylglycerin
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
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 polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.
A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
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 GlycerinSodium 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 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. 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
Meebak Cica Serum 59 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
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