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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum versus Stratia Liquid Gold .

Last updated on September 11, 2023. Published on June 14, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free serums. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain ceramides and hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for 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 or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum British Brand United Kingdom
Serum American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Simply Pure Hydrating Serum

Shop

Buy Liquid Gold

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (7)
Redness Reducing (5)
Reduces Irritation (4)
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E
Niacinamide
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (7)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (6)
Reduces Irritation (7)
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (5)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating (2)
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Glycereth-26 • Polysorbate 60 • Glycerin • Propylene Glycol • Boswellia Serrata Gum • Dipropylene Glycol • Allantoin • Sodium PCA • Pentylene Glycol • Sodium Lactate • Lactic Acid • Serine • Urea • Sorbitol • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Phytosphingosine • Cholesterol • Carbomer • Xanthan Gum • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Sodium Hydroxide • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Disodium EDTA

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 11.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 2.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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 Hyaluronate

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 22.

5
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Liked

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is the lauric acid sodium salt of lactyl lactate.

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate is an emulsifier and surfactant.

Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. They do this by preventing ingredients from separating, such as oils and water which do not mix naturally. Surfactants reduce surface tension, making it easier to rinse pollutants off skin.

Due to its relation to lauric acid, it may provide antimicrobial benefits.

Learn more about Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 23.

6
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ceramide NP is a type of ceramide.

Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.

Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.

If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.

Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP

Learn more about Ceramide NP

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 17.

7
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ceramide AP is a type of Ceramide.

Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. Having a strong skin barrier leads to more firm and hydrated skin.

They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.

If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.

Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide NP Ceramide EOP

Learn more about Ceramide AP

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 18.

8
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Ceramide EOP is a type of Ceramide. EOP stands for a linked Ester fatty acid, a linked Omega hydroxy fatty acid, and the Phytosphingosine base.

Ceramides are intercellular lipids naturally found in our skin that bonds dead skin cells together to create a barrier. They are known for their ability to hold water and thus are a great ingredient for dry skin.

Ceramides are an important building block for our skin barrier. A stronger barrier helps the skin look more firm and hydrated. By bolstering the skin ceramides act as a barrier against irritating ingredients. This can help with inflammation as well.

If you would like to eat ceramides, sweet potatoes contain a small amount.

Read more about other common types of ceramides here: Ceramide AP Ceramide NP

Learn more about Ceramide EOP

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 19.

9
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Phytosphingosine is a phospholipid naturally found in our skin. It helps moisturize, soothe, and protect skin.

Phytosphingosine is already present in our skin. On our skin, it is a building block for ceramides.

Phytosphingosine tells our skin to increase its natural moisturizing factor (NMF). The NMF is responsible for hydration, a strong barrier, and plasticity. Our NMF decreases with age. Increasing NMF leads to more healthy and hydrated skin.

Studies show products formulated with NMF ingredients help strengthen our skin's barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier reduces irritation and increases hydration. Our skin barrier is responsible for having plump and firm skin. It also helps protect our skin against infection, allergies, and inflammation.

Phytosphingosine is also abundant in plants and fungi.

More ingredients that help boost collagen in skin:

Learn more about Phytosphingosine

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 20.

10
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Stabilising
Community Rating: Liked

Cholesterol is a class of organic molecules called lipids. It helps hydrate your skin and is essential to having a healthy skin barrier.

Our skin naturally contains cholesterol in the outermost layer. Besides cholesterol, it also contains ceramides and fatty acids. Cholesterol makes up about 1/4 of your skin's outer layer and barrier. Your skin barrier is responsible for keeping allergens and microbes out. Having a healthy skin barrier is also responsible for keeping your skin firm and plump.

Our bodies use cholestrol to create vitamin D, steroid hormones, and more.

Learn more about Cholesterol

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 21.

11
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming
Community Rating: Disliked

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 24.

12
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

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

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 25.

13
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.

Stratia Liquid Gold contains this as ingredient number 29.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

52% are loved or liked
16% have mixed ratings
29% are disliked or very disliked
3% have no rating yet
55% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
34% are disliked or very disliked
3% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Serum 31 ingredients

Simply Pure Hydrating Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Stratia Liquid Gold 29 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 review
tzounakii's Avatar'
Apr 5, 2023

Love
I use this as a serum on my dry sensitive skin.
The fatty acids and oils work really well for me.

Love
I use this as a serum on my dry sensitive skin.
The fatty acids and oils work really well for me.

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