AHC Beauty Hyaluronic Dewy Radiance Toner Versus CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum

AHC Beauty Hyaluronic Dewy Radiance Toner Versus CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This hydrating toner is formulated around Bifida Ferment Lysate and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and brighten dull-looking skin.

This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceramide NP to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Dipropylene Glycol

Pentylene Glycol

Bifida Ferment Lysate

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Propanediol

Carbomer

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate

Tromethamine

Caprylyl Glycol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Allantoin

Disodium EDTA

Sodium Hyaluronate

Panthenol

1,2-Hexanediol

Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Glyceryl Glucoside

Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil

Glycerin

Tocopherol

Glutathione

Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water

Hyaluronic Acid

Butylene Glycol

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate

PEG-9 Diglycidyl Ether/Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Potassium Hyaluronate

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract

Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer

Polyvinyl Alcohol

Hydroxyproline

Proline

Alanine

Lysine

Serine

Threonine

Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Ascorbic Acid

Linolenic Acid

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propanediol, Carbomer, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Glyceryl Glucoside, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Glutathione, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, PEG-9 Diglycidyl Ether/Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Hydroxyproline, Proline, Alanine, Lysine, Serine, Threonine, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ascorbic Acid, Linolenic Acid

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

Dimethicone

Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate

Ceramide NP

Ceramide AP

Ceramide EOP

Cetearyl Alcohol

Behentrimonium Methosulfate

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate

Cholesterol

Phenoxyethanol

Isopropyl Myristate

Citric Acid

Xanthan Gum

Phytosphingosine

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin

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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).

Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture.

Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%.

It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier.

Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%.

A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions.

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.

This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:

On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.

One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).

Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.

You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.

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.

Glycerin (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.

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.

Sodium 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.

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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