Versus

Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum Versus Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate

Serum
Serum
American Brand United States
French Brand France

Updated on August 30, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate

Water

Skin Conditioning

Cetearyl Isononanoate

Emollient

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Isononyl Isononanoate

Emollient

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

PPG-3 Myristyl Ether

Emollient

Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer

Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract

Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Propanediol

Solvent

Tromethamine

Buffering

Silybum Marianum Seed Oil

Skin Conditioning
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Escin

Tonic

Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

Abrasive
Exfoliant IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Theobroma Cacao Extract

Skin Conditioning

Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer

Leontopodium Alpinum Extract

Skin Conditioning

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Persea Gratissima Oil Unsaponifiables

Skin Conditioning
Oil Icon

Caramel

Cosmetic Colorant

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine

Skin Conditioning

Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Salicornia Herbacea Extract

Skin Conditioning

Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract

Emollient

Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract

Masking

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract

Humectant

Disodium EDTA

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract

Astringent

Maltodextrin

Absorbent

Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract

Masking

Mangifera Indica Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Jania Rubens Extract

Skin Conditioning

Ascorbic Acid

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Engelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

CI 14700

Cosmetic Colorant
2 / 1

Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract

Skin Conditioning

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. 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 Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

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 Glycerin
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Solvent

Propanediol 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 Propanediol
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan 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
Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

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.

Skin Conditioning

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.

Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

When to use

255 Routines
51% use in am
49% use in pm
95% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
173 Routines
46% use in am
54% use in pm
94% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum 18 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 3 ratings
Light (3) Hydrating (3) Works Well (3)
alyssaklein's avatar

Alyssa Klein

6 months ago
Review

Comparing this to experiments super saturated, it comes in a larger bottle made of glass. But they are very similar! I like how Prequel shares the pH level.

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
rachleaves's avatar

rachleaves

4 months ago
Review

This appears to be the only moisturizer I can use that doesn't break me out or inflame me. I am still a tiny bit dry but that is to be expected without any emollients and I am not going to rock the boat and add anything at this moment. I avoid ingredients in almost everything marketed toward "sensitive skin" including niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, so I was thrilled to find this one.

#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate 52 ingredients

3.3 /5
from 3 ratings
pinmin's avatar

pinmin

1 year ago
Review

IRRITATION
i got this as a sample when i bought a clarins lip oil and WHEN I TELL YOU my skin was burning within minutes of applying. i immediately washed it off but didn’t manage to save myself from the horrible red rash and peeling it left behind. i have relatively sensitive skin but i have never had a reaction this bad to a product - don’t know if i’m allergic to something in it or if it’s just Show more