Versus

Summer Fridays Dream Oasis Deep Hydration Serum Versus The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution

Serum
Serum
American Brand United States
Canadian Brand Canada

Updated on June 28, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain peptides

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily 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

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

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Dream Oasis Deep Hydration Serum

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
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
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
Skin Conditioning

Acetyl Glucosamine is an antioxidant and humectant. It is an amino acid sugar and is naturally found in our skin.

The cool thing about this ingredient? It helps the skin produce hyaluronic acid and boost hydration. It also has antioxidant benefits to protect skin cells.

When paired with niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine has been shown to be effective at reducing discoloration.

Learn more about Acetyl Glucosamine
Buffering, Humectant

Sodium Lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, an AHA. It is a humectant and sometimes used to adjust the pH of a product.

This ingredient is part of our skin's NMF, or natural moisturizing factor. Our NMF is essential for the hydration of our top skin layers and plasticity of skin. NMF also influences our skin's natural acid mantle and pH, which protects our skin from harmful bacteria.

High percentages of Sodium Lactate can have an exfoliating effect.

Fun fact: Sodium Lactate is produced from fermented sugar.

Learn more about Sodium Lactate
Buffering

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 Hydroxide
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

When to use

69 Routines
59% use in am
41% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
306 Routines
49% use in am
50% use in pm
87% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Summer Fridays Dream Oasis Deep Hydration Serum 44 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Hydrating (2) Expensive (2) Works Well (2)
bethanyh's avatar

Bethany

10 months ago
Review

Great hydration, however, this product ran out very quick for the price.

#expensive
#hydrating
#works well
mallorybelcher's avatar

Mallory Belcher

8 months ago
Review

I’ve been through about 6 bottles of this liquid gold. I have sensitive/hormonal skin and use this with the SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream. My skin has never looked better.

#expensive
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well

The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution 18 ingredients

4.8 /5
from 4 ratings
Absorbs Well (3) Works Well (3) Great Value (2)
MamzelleMarie's avatar

MamzelleMarie

1 year ago
Review

I love this so much I kicked Niacinamide off my routine because this seems to finally be doing all the things Niacinamide was supposed to do for me skin. Now that I have checked the ingredients it makes sense :)
My skin is clearer, less textured and breakout spots fade noticeably faster. It feels amazing and goes great over and under other serums. Absolute new holy grail product.

#absorbs well
#works well
MercyNicine's avatar

Mercy Nicine

3 months ago
Review

I started using this product in 2023 and have repurchased it a couple times since and I really enjoy the way it keeps PIH away following acne breakouts. Another reviewer said this serum replaced Niacinamide in their routine and I definitely feel the same, I enjoyed this more!

I have very oily skin that’s prone to acne and congestion and I really appreciated the lactic acid in the ingredients as Show more

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent