Nivea Extra Bright C & E Bouncy Radiance Vitamin Body Serum Versus Bio Essence Bio-HA Super HA13 Essence Lotion
This hydrating toner is formulated around Niacinamide and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantDistarch Phosphate
AbsorbentCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone
EmollientAlcohol Denat.
AntimicrobialEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
UV AbsorberCetyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate Se
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
UV AbsorberSodium Polyacrylate
AbsorbentMethylparaben
PreservativePEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingSodium Cetearyl Sulfate
CleansingTrisodium EDTA
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer
Ethylparaben
PreservativePropylparaben
PreservativePolyisobutene
Tocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantPropylene Glycol
HumectantPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingMalpighia Glabra Fruit Juice
Skin ConditioningTrideceth-9
EmulsifyingBisabolol
AntioxidantGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
BleachingMyrciaria Dubia Fruit Juice
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBHT
AntioxidantTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Distarch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Phenoxyethanol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Sodium Polyacrylate, Methylparaben, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Trisodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Acrylamide/Ammonium Acrylate Copolymer, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Polyisobutene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ubiquinone, Citric Acid, Malpighia Glabra Fruit Juice, Trideceth-9, Bisabolol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, BHT, Tocopherol, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingBetaine
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethylpropanediol
SolventXylitylglucoside
HumectantAnhydroxylitol
HumectantIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientXylitol
HumectantDimethicone
EmollientGlucose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantLecithin
EmollientEuglena Gracilis Extract
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
HumectantCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
HumectantCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantChondrus Crispus Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningOctadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Parfum
MaskingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Niacinamide, Betaine, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Xylitol, Dimethicone, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Euglena Gracilis Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide NP, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Octadecyl Di-T-Butyl-4-Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeGlycerin (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 GlycerinParfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolTocopherol 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 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