Sweet Chemistry O2 Elasticity Reinforcing Hydra-Cream Versus Biologique Recherche Creme M.E.C. Bi-Gel Epidermal Structure Remodeler
This anti-aging moisturizer is formulated around Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 to soften the look of wrinkles.
This barrier-repair moisturizer is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Polyglutamic Acid to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Heptyl Undecylenate
EmollientHydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Cetearyl Olivate
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Squalane
Emollient
Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil
Emollient
Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
AstringentVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningRubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract
AstringentRubus Idaeus Fruit Extract
AstringentSambucus Nigra Fruit Extract
AstringentPyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin Conditioning
Heptapeptide-15
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin Conditioning
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin Conditioning
Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin Conditioning
Copper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCeramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Cholesterol
Emollient
Colloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Beta-Glucan
Skin Conditioning
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Sodium Lactate
Buffering
PCA
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Arginine
Masking
Aspartic Acid
Masking
Glycine
Buffering
Alanine
Masking
Serine
Masking
Valine
MaskingHistidine
Humectant
Phenylalanine
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin Conditioning
Threonine
Thioctic Acid
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Resveratrol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Lactylate
EmulsifyingPolyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Emulsion Stabilising1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Propanediol
Solvent
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Heptyl Undecylenate, Hydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Squalane, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Rubus Fruticosus Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-52, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Colloidal Oatmeal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Thioctic Acid, Ubiquinone, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maltodextrin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Isostearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Methylpropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol Cocoate
Emulsifying
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin Conditioning
Undecane
EmollientHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTridecane
Perfuming
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Saccharide Hydrolysate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Ethylcellulose
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-3
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenylpropanol
Masking
Polyglutamic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Peucedanum Graveolens Extract
TonicMedicago Sativa Extract
TonicPolysorbate 60
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Carvone
Masking
Cinnamal
Perfuming
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Antioxidant
Lecithin
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Maltodextrin, Isostearyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, Lauroyl Lysine, Undecane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tridecane, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylcellulose, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Biosaccharide Gum-3, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenylpropanol, Polyglutamic Acid, Peucedanum Graveolens Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Carvone, Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Lecithin, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl 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 GlycerinMaltodextrin is a plant-derived carbohydrate made by breaking down starch (usually from corn, potato, or rice). In cosmetic formulas, it's a multitasking absorbent, emulsion stabilizer, and skin conditioner.
This ingredient is mostly used to stabilize emulsions and improve the powdery, non-greasy feel of products (like dry shampoos).
Safety-wise, this ingredient is pretty solid; it's even recognized as a food additive. Both animal and clinical studies found no adverse effects at the levels used in cosmetics.
Industry data shows this ingredient is used up to 45.7% in spray products and up to 33% in powder products.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:
Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.
On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.
Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. 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 WaterXanthan 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
