The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Versus Estée Lauder Perfectionist CP+R Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum
This hydrating treatment is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
This anti-aging serum is formulated around Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Oligopeptide to soften the look of wrinkles and hydrate skin.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
No concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Citric Acid
Buffering
Isoceteth-20
EmulsifyingEthoxydiglycol
HumectantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningHexylene Glycol
Emulsifying1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Dimethicone
Emollient
Water
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer
Silica
Abrasive
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Caprylyl Methicone
Skin Conditioning
Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract
Skin ConditioningSalvia Sclarea Extract
AntiseborrhoeicColeus Forskohlii Root Extract
EmollientChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Emollient
Palmaria Palmata Extract
Skin Protecting
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Silybum Marianum Extract
Skin Conditioning
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
EmollientPadina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemia Extract
Skin ConditioningPantethine
EmollientAlgae Extract
Emollient
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Boswellia Serrata Extract
Skin Conditioning
Zea Mays Kernel Extract
Glycine Soja Protein
EmulsifyingCaffeine
Skin Conditioning
Whey Protein
Skin ConditioningLinoleic Acid
Cleansing
Lecithin
Emollient
Collagen
Moisturising
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Humectant
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide
Cleansing
Glycerin
Humectant
Faex Extract
Skin ConditioningPolyquaternium-51
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil
Emollient
Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 40
Emulsifying
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent
Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium PCA
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Propylene Glycol Dicaprate
EmollientSodium Chondroitin Sulfate
Skin ConditioningSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Isohexadecane
EmollientPEG-8
HumectantTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate
SurfactantLaureth-12
EmulsifyingAcrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSodium Beta-Sitosteryl Sulfate
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingParfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
BHT
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Mica
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantDimethicone, Water, Polysilicone-11, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Silica, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Methicone, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Artemia Extract, Pantethine, Algae Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Cholesterol, Squalane, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Zea Mays Kernel Extract, Glycine Soja Protein, Caffeine, Whey Protein, Linoleic Acid, Lecithin, Collagen, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Glycerin, Faex Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Phytosphingosine, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Polysorbate 40, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Zinc PCA, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isohexadecane, PEG-8, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 80, Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate, Laureth-12, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Beta-Sitosteryl Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, CI 77891
Reviews
Alternatives
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 GlycolEthylhexylglycerin 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 GlycerinPentylene 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 GlycolPhenoxyethanol 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 PropanediolSodium 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 Water
