Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting And Firming Advanced Cream Versus Skincervation Bakuchiol Edelweiss Antioxidant Cerum
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Caffeine and Panax Ginseng Root Extract to soften the look of wrinkles.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Bakuchiol to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
PPG-3 Dipivalate
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientMyristyl Myristate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant
Silica
Abrasive
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Emollient
Potassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingMaltitol
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningRosa Damascena Flower Water
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningAngelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningPanax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Inositol
Humectant
Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialBupleurum Falcatum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Isohexadecane
EmollientPolysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Tristearate
EmulsifyingTrisodium EDTA
ChelatingSodium Citrate
BufferingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingLimonene
Perfuming
Hexyl Cinnamal
Perfuming
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Linalool
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Parfum
Masking
CI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Alcohol, PPG-3 Dipivalate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Myristyl Myristate, PEG-100 Stearate, Silica, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Maltitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Caffeine, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Lamium Album Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Inositol, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Tristearate, Trisodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Succinoglycan, Sorbitan Oleate, Citric Acid, Sodium Metaphosphate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Sodium Metabisulfite, Tocopherol, Linalool, Citronellol, Alpinia Speciosa Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, CI 77491, CI 77492
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Cetearyl Olivate
Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract
Astringent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Leontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningPhyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract
HumectantCitrullus Lanatus Seed Oil
Emollient
Betaine
Humectant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pantolactone
Humectant
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingGeranylgeranylisopropanol
Skin ConditioningCaprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Olivate, Bakuchiol, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus Seed Oil, Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Pantolactone, Saccharide Isomerate, Thioctic Acid, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Geranylgeranylisopropanol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.
However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (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 Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. 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 Water
