Eva Naturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum

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.

The only catch is that HA isn't a single thing; it actually comes in a wide range of molecular weights (~50 - 2,000+ kDA) and size matters.

Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.

This is why the best HA serums blend the two sizes together so you get the best of both worlds.

The majority of cosmetic HA is produced by bacterial fermentation, typically using Streptococcus or Bacillus strains. Typical use levels in skincare sit around 0.1-2%.

A clinical study using a 0.2% low-molecular weight HA gel showed improvement in facial seborrheic dermatitis with excellent tolerance.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.

A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.

Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.

More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.

Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.

This ingredient may help soothe your skin by reducing inflammation. Emerging studies show it inhibits nitrous oxide production safely, therefore reducing inflammation.

Marigolds have been used in traditional medicine throughout Asia and Europe.

Despite the "dipeptide" in the INCI name, it's actually a tetrapeptide hooked to a palmitic acid tail. This helps it slip past the skin barrier and stay stable in formula.

According to manufacturer in vitro and in vivo data, the Syn-Tacks blend stimulates key DEJ proteins including Laminin-5, Collagens IV, VII, and XVII, and Integrin β4. Improvements in firmness, elasticity, and suppleness were after about two months of use.

The combination of the two peptides target the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ), or the mesh that connects your epidermis to your dermis. Your DEJ naturally thins with age and exposure.

Peer-reviewed research on DEJ targeted peptides and manufacturer data suggests the pair tells your skin cells to produce more structural proteins that hold the DEJ together.

In studies, this translates to firmer skin and a bump in skin thickness via ultrasound.

DMDM Hydantoin is approved for use in cosmetics all around the world.
In the EU, this ingredient is allowed in personal products up to 0.6 percent.

You might have heard of the class-action lawsuit about it causing hair loss. According to chemists, there has not been a link found between this ingredient and hair loss.

The Hydantoin part of this ingredient is created by reacting glycolic acid and urea.

You can check out alternatives to Dmdm Hydantoin:
phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

Some studies have explored oral supplementation of pantothenic acid in the acne context and found it to help reduce blemishes over time.

Though oral and topical use are different, this research helps explain why vitamin B5 is often included in skincare routines aimed at keeping skin balanced and hydrated.

The good news is: studies show applying this ingredient topically replenishes ubiquinone levels in our skin. This also comes with a ton of skin benefits. These benefits include:

Ubiquinone is considered a large molecule and cannot be absorbed into the lower layers of skin. This is why it is believed to be such an effective antioxidant: it protects our skin in the upper layers and prevents damage in the deeper layers.

When used in sunscreen, ubiquinone is shown to increase ingredient stability, increase SPF factor, and add to infrared protection.

Fun fact: ubiquinone is fat-soluble.

Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. The antioxidants in Alpha Lipoic Acid have been shown to fight damage from cigarette smoke.

Studies also show Alpha Lipoic Acid plays a role in wound healing.

Thioctic Acid will break down when exposed to sunlight.

Many foods contain thioctic acid, including tomato, brussel sprouts, spinach, and broccoli.

Learn more about Vitamin B in skincare:

Foods rich in riboflavin include eggs, milk, organ meat, cheese, and yogurt.

Learn more about other types of Vitamin B:

In skincare, it is mainly used as an antioxidant and skin conditioning ingredient. Vitamin C is commonly used to support brighter and more even looking skin.

There's some topical research suggesting calcium absorbate can be used in emulsions and may be helpful in skin hydration outcomes, but the best benefits of vitamin C are established for ascorbic acid.

Read more about other types of Vitamin C:

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.