Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA versus Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on January 22, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones 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.
Ingredient Info
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 15 ingredients
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum 14 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 15 ingredients
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum 14 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 15 ingredients
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum 14 ingredients
Water • Lactic Acid • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Propanediol • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract • Acacia Senegal Gum • Xanthan Gum • Isoceteth-20 • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Sodium Hydroxide • Ethylhexylglycerin • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylyl Glycol
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterThe Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA contains this as ingredient number 1.
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Lactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidThe Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA contains this as ingredient number 2.
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolThe Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA contains this as ingredient number 4.
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA contains this as ingredient number 13.
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolThe Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA contains this as ingredient number 15.
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 15 ingredients
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum 14 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 15 ingredients
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum 14 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum 14 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA.
See 50 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Urban Skin HydraFirm + Brightening Serum.
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