Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Stella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum versus Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream .
Last updated on August 21, 2023. Published on December 04, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 17 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Price
Ingredient Info
Stella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum 31 ingredients
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream 25 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 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
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 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is 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 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Stella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum 31 ingredients
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream 25 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Stella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum 31 ingredients
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream 25 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Propanediol • Squalane • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Pentylene Glycol • Polyglycerin-3 • Maris Aqua • Sodium Hyaluronate • Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract • Crithmum Maritimum Extract • Palmaria Palmata Extract • Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil • Tocopheryl Acetate • Tocopherol • Jojoba Esters • Xanthan Gum • Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides • Hydroxyacetophenone • Cetearyl Glucoside • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Alcaligenes Polysaccharides • Citric Acid • Sodium Citrate • Gluconolactone • Glucose • Calcium Gluconate • Caprylic Acid • Cetearyl Alcohol • Sodium Benzoate • Parfum
Water • Glycerin • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Propanediol • Pentylene Glycol • Tribehenin • Betula Alba Juice • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate • Cetyl Alcohol • Cetearyl Alcohol • Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides • C10-18 Triglycerides • Prunus Cerasus Juice • Sodium Hyaluronate • Cetearyl Glucoside • Xanthan Gum • Hydroxyacetophenone • Betaine • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Citric Acid • Sodium Citrate • Glucose • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Benzoate • Parfum
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 WaterStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream 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 GlycerinStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream 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 PropanediolStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 4.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 5.
Sodium 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 HyaluronateStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 14.
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 GumStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 16.
Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides isn't fungal acne safe.
Stella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 11.
Hydroxyacetophenone is antioxidant and helps with skin conditioning.
Antioxidants help fight off free-radical molecules. These unstable molecules may damage your skin cells. By helping stabilize free-radicals, antioxidants may help in anti-aging.
Hydroxyacetophenone boosts the efficiency of other preservatives.
Learn more about HydroxyacetophenoneStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.
Cetearyl Glucoside is a surfactant and emulsifier. It can be produced from synthetic of natural sources of cetearyl alcohol and glucose.
Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters. It can also be used to enhance the texture of products.
As a surfactant, Cetearyl Glucoside helps during the cleansing process. By gathering all the dirt and oils, it allows these molecules to be washed away easily.
Learn more about Cetearyl GlucosideStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 15.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an emulsifier and helps condition the skin. It is amino acid-based.
In higher amounts, it may act as a cleansing agent.
Stella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 19.
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 AcidStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 20.
Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Sodium Citrate helps maintain the pH of a product. Normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5). The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome. 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.
Sodium Citrate is a chelating agent. It neutralizes metal ions from water and prevents them from binding to other ingredients. This ensures the other ingredients will not be altered.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 21.
Glucose is a simple sugar and is the most important source of energy in all organisms. In skincare, glucose is used to hydrate the skin. It also acts as a prebiotic for our natural biome.
As a humectant, glucose draws moisture from the air and from deeper levels in the skin. This helps hydrate skin.
Our skin's natural microbiome contains many saccharides that act as prebiotics. These prebiotics help strengthen our skin's microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome helps protect our skin from harmful bacteria and other contaminants.
Studies show glucose may help with fading discoloration and pigmentation. This is because our skin metabolizes glucose into lactic acid. Lactic acid is an AHA that helps exfoliate the top layer of skin.
Plants and algae make glucose during the process of photosynthesis. It is then used to make cellulose, the building blocks of cell walls.
Learn more about GlucoseStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 22.
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 AlcoholStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 10.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 24.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, 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.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term '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. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.
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 ParfumStella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Stella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum 31 ingredients
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream 25 ingredients
Usage
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When to use
Stella by Stella McCartney Alter-Care Serum 31 ingredients
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream 25 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Stella by Stella McCartney Restore Cream 25 ingredients
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