Sweet Chemistry O3 Barrier Repairing Hydra-Serum Versus Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate skin.
This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Ectoin and Copper Tripeptide-1 to strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of wrinkles.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingHydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract
Ceramide NP
Skin ConditioningTetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
AntioxidantLaminaria Saccharina Extract
Skin ProtectingCholesterol
EmollientPropanediol
SolventRosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
EmollientCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialVaccinium 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 ConditioningEuterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract
Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Hexapeptide-52
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Skin ConditioningHeptapeptide-15
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Heptapeptide-18
Skin ConditioningPalmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Skin ConditioningCopper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningCeramide AP
Skin ConditioningPhytosphingosine
Skin ConditioningColloidal Oatmeal
AbsorbentSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
HumectantBeta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningLinolenic Acid
CleansingLinoleic Acid
CleansingPanthenol
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantSodium Lactate
BufferingPCA
HumectantPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingAspartic Acid
MaskingGlycine
BufferingAlanine
MaskingSerine
MaskingValine
MaskingHistidine
HumectantPhenylalanine
MaskingIsoleucine
Skin ConditioningProline
Skin ConditioningThreonine
Thioctic Acid
AntioxidantUbiquinone
AntioxidantResveratrol
AntioxidantTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantBisabolol
AntioxidantAllantoin
Skin ConditioningC12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
AntimicrobialMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningBiosaccharide Gum-1
HumectantMyristyl Glucoside
CleansingLauryl Glucoside
CleansingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingHexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPolyvinyl Alcohol
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientWater, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract, Ceramide NP, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Cholesterol, Propanediol, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 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 AP, Phytosphingosine, Colloidal Oatmeal, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, 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, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Myristyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantEctoin
Skin ConditioningPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate/Caprate
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPanthenol
Skin ConditioningCarnitine
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantCopper Tripeptide-1
Skin ConditioningOxidized Glutathione
EmollientErgothioneine
AntioxidantTropolone
Skin ConditioningCopper Lysinate/Prolinate
Skin ConditioningAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantMethylglucoside Phosphate
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSaccharide Isomerate
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSodium Gluconate
Skin ConditioningSclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium Phosphate
BufferingSodium Phosphate
BufferingCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPropanediol
Solvent1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitric Acid
BufferingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeWater, Glycerin, Ectoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Panthenol, Carnitine, Tocopherol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Oxidized Glutathione, Ergothioneine, Tropolone, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Saccharide Isomerate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Sclerotium Gum, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 GlycolWe don't have a description for Copper Lysinate/Prolinate yet.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (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 GlycerinThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
We don't have a description for Methylglucoside Phosphate yet.
Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolPhenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Learn more about PhenoxyethanolPropanediol 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 PropanediolWater. 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