Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2 In 1 Moisturiser & Serum Versus iUNIK Beta Glucan Daily Moisture Cream
This oil-control serum is formulated around Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate to balance excess oil.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Centella Asiatica Extract and Beta-Glucan to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantAluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentPolyacrylamide
Butylene Glycol
HumectantDimethiconol
EmollientDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCaesalpinia Spinosa Gum
Skin ConditioningParfum
MaskingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
MaskingAcer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningActinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract
EmollientNelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Nigra Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientLaureth-7
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeSodium Benzoate
MaskingLauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientDisodium EDTA
ChelatingCitronellol
PerfumingCoumarin
PerfumingEugenol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polyacrylamide, Butylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Parfum, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Extract, Morus Nigra Leaf Extract, Betaine, Tocopheryl Acetate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantMethyl Trimethicone
Skin ConditioningCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingHydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientCetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientSorbitan Stearate
EmulsifyingCetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
HumectantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantGlucose
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantArginine
MaskingPrunus Salicina Fruit Extract
AntioxidantPunica Granatum Fruit Extract
AntioxidantRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentFragaria Vesca Fruit Extract
AstringentPrunus Persica Fruit Extract
AbrasiveWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Centella Asiatica Extract, Beta-Glucan, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Betaine, Allantoin, Adenosine, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Prunus Salicina Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Fragaria Vesca Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica Fruit Extract
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Betaine is a humectant. Like hyaluronic acid, it helps attract and retain moisture in the skin. It’s known for being gentle and for helping the skin maintain balanced hydration.
Betaine is mainly used to improve hydration and support calmer skin. It helps skin cells regulate water balance because it functions as an osmolyte.
Some studies suggest betaine may support making skin tone more even.
Fun fact: Betaine naturally exists in the skin and the body. In cosmetic products, it can be either plant-derived (most commonly from sugar beets) or synthetically produced for consistency and stability.
Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine.
Learn more about BetaineButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (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 GlycerinWater. 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