Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum versus SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum .
Last updated on October 18, 2023. Published on December 16, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 15 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum 43 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum 43 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum 43 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Water • Copaifera Officinalis Resin • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Propanediol • Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate • Isosorbide Dicaprylate • Cetearyl Glucoside • Ethoxydiglycol • Diheptyl Succinate • Squalane • Niacinamide • Panax Notoginseng Root Extract • Theobroma Cacao Leaf Cell Extract • Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract • Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract • Echinacea Purpurea Extract • Sophora Japonica Bud Extract • Humulus Lupulus Extract • Curcuma Longa Root Extract • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract • Astaxanthin • Ergothioneine • Thioctic Acid • Sorbitan Olivate • Tocopherol • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate • Glyceryl Stearate Citrate • Tribehenin • Cetearyl Alcohol • Acacia Senegal Gum • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Xanthan Gum • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenethyl Alcohol • Phenoxyethanol • Citric Acid • Phytic Acid • Sodium Hydroxide
Water • Butylene Glycol • Propanediol • Ethylhexyl Olivate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Chlorogenic Acids • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Lauryl Lactate • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate • Ergothioneine • Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone • Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract • Carnosine • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract • Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract • Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract • Curcuma Longa Root Extract • Olea Europaea Fruit Extract • Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract • Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2 • Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract • Coffea Arabica Leaf Cell Extract • Crocus Sativus Leaf Cell Culture Extract • Superoxide Dismutase • Ubiquinone • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Linoleic Acid • Linolenic Acid • Sea Whip Extract • Bisabolol • Tocopherol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Cholesterol • Phytosphingosine • Jojoba Esters • Sodium PCA • Pentylene Glycol • Methyl Gluceth-20 • Glycerin • Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax • Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax • Lecithin • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Dicetyl Phosphate • Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate • Polyglycerin-3 • Ceteth-20 Phosphate • Diisostearyl Malate • Xanthan Gum • Steareth-2 • Acacia Senegal Gum • Carbomer • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Dextran • Sodium Hydroxide • Citric Acid • Disodium EDTA • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 44.
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.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
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 PropanediolSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Curcuma Longa Root Extract is from the spice, turmeric. Besides being a healthy and delicious spice, turmeric also has plenty of skincare benefits. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial properties.
Turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant. Antioxidants help neutralize unstable free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules may damage your skin's cells and DNA. Curcumin may help with anti-aging.
Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory properties. It can help soothe skin and reduce irritation. On top of that, curcumin has been shown to help prevent hyperpigmentation from sun damage.
The anti-microbial property of turmeric can make it effective in treating acne. It has also been shown to help regulate the production of sebum.
Learn more about Curcuma Longa Root ExtractSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
This ingredient is created by putting sodium hyaluronate through hydrolysis.
You might know this as 'mini' or 'ultra low-molecular weight' hyaluronic acid. The small molecule size means it is able to travel deeper in the skin.
According to studies, low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can:
One study from 2011 found ultra-low weight HA to show pro-inflammatory properties. Another study from 2022 found it to downregulate UV-B induced inflammation.
Hydrolysis is a process of changing a molecule using water or enzymes.
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronateSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Ergothioneine is an antioxidant.
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
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 TocopherolSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
We don't have a description for Acacia Senegal Gum.
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 56.
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 GumSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 54.
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.
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 38.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 63.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 40.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 64.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
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.
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 look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 41.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 61.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideSkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum contains this as ingredient number 43.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum contains this as ingredient number 60.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum 43 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum 43 ingredients
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
SkinBetter Science Mystro Active Balance Serum 43 ingredients
AideeCantu
Super expensive and I’m not sure I saw much of a difference. It helped a little bit with my redness but that’s all I noticed. It’s also hard to...
Super expensive and I’m not sure I saw much of a difference. It helped a little bit with my redness but that’s all I noticed. It’s also hard to spread around the face.
SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum 64 ingredients
AideeCantu
Don’t like how it doesn’t spread easily on face
Used daily for three days and it made me itchy
Cut back to every other day and it made my...
Don’t like how it doesn’t spread easily on face
Used daily for three days and it made me itchy
Cut back to every other day and it made my cheeks red and warm; it ended up breaking my skin barrier
Alternatives
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