Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Capsule Mist Versus MediCube PDRN Pink Glutathione Serum Mist

Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Capsule Mist Versus MediCube PDRN Pink Glutathione Serum Mist

This hydrating toner is formulated around Sodium DNA and Panthenol to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

This anti-aging serum is formulated around Sodium DNA and Glutathione to soften the look of wrinkles and brighten dull-looking skin.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Diphenyl Dimethicone

Dipropylene Glycol

Pentylene Glycol

1,2-Hexanediol

Glycereth-26

Propanediol

Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment

Butylene Glycol

Panthenol

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Sodium DNA

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Hydroxyacetophenone

Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer

Xylitylglucoside

Allantoin

Dipeptide-15

Gellan Gum

Anhydroxylitol

Calcium Chloride

Caprylyl Glycol

Adenosine

PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24

Glycerin

Sodium Citrate

Xylitol

Glycine Soja Seed Extract

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate

Citric Acid

Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract

Glycine Soja Oil

Pyrus Malus Juice

Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract

Tocopherol

Cynanchum Atratum Extract

Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract

Octanediol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Curcuma Longa Root Extract

Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

Corallina Officinalis Extract

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Althaea Rosea Flower Extract

Beta-Carotene

Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid

Castanea Sativa Seed Extract

Dipotassium Phosphate

Acetyl Glutamine

Agar

Magnesium Sulfate

Xanthan Gum

Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone

Phenyl Trimethicone

Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate

Pyrus Malus Seed Oil

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Ceramide NP

Sodium Chloride

Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

Copper Tripeptide-1

Cellulose Gum

Amber Powder

Sodium Bicarbonate

Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil

Potassium Chloride

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Water, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Streptococcus Thermophilus Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium DNA, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Hydroxyacetophenone, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Allantoin, Dipeptide-15, Gellan Gum, Anhydroxylitol, Calcium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Adenosine, PPG-13-Decyltetradeceth-24, Glycerin, Sodium Citrate, Xylitol, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Pyrus Malus Juice, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Cynanchum Atratum Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Octanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Dipotassium Phosphate, Acetyl Glutamine, Agar, Magnesium Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Pyrus Malus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Ceramide NP, Sodium Chloride, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Copper Tripeptide-1, Cellulose Gum, Amber Powder, Sodium Bicarbonate, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

Collagen Water

C13-15 Alkane

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Niacinamide

Sorbitol

Parfum

Eclipta Prostrata Extract

Glutathione

Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract

Rosa Damascena Flower Water

Biotin

Hexapeptide-2

Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Tripeptide-1

Tripeptide-3

Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17

Hexapeptide-9

Water, Collagen Water, Dipropylene Glycol, C13-15 Alkane, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Chloride, Sorbitol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Adenosine, Sodium DNA, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Glutathione, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Biotin, Hexapeptide-2, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-3, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Hexapeptide-9

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.

1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.

It is a:

Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin

Emollient, helping to soften skin

Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas

Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives

Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that your body already makes in every cell. In skincare, it acts mainly as a skin conditioning and anti-aging agent.

The way it works is fairly well mapped out:

Your skin has cells called fibroblasts that build collagen (the stuff that keeps skin firm and smooth). Adenosine basically flips a switch on these cells that tells them to get to work making more collagen and other proteins. These cells slow down on their own as skin ages, so Adenosine helps give them a little nudge to keep going.

The clinical backing is pretty solid too.

A blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 126 women aged 45-65 tested a 0.1% cream twice daily and found real improvements in crow's feet and frown lines using a precise 3D skin-mapping technique; these changes showed up by week 3 and held at 2 months.

A later study using Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches reported gains in wrinkle depth, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration.

On concentrations, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has set 0.04% as the approved functional anti-wrinkle level. You'll typically see this ingredient used somewhere in the 0.04-0.1% range since it works at low doses.

This ingredient has been found safe for cosmetics with the data showing no irritation or sensitization.

Overall, this is a great ingredient for any anti-aging routine and has no photosensitizing effect, so it suits both AM and PM use.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

This ingredient is a biosurfactant ferment made when the yeast Candida bombicola ferments glucose plus methyl rapeseedate. This kind of ferment is best known for producing sophorolipids (a family of glycolipid biosurfactants) which brands use as mild cleansing agents.

What it does;

Lab work on purified acidic sophorolipids suggests they can be less cytotoxic/irritating in skin-model testing than a common harsh surfactant (SLES) at the tested conditions.

By the way, the final cosmetic ingredient does not contain live yeast. It’s a processed fermentation-derived ingredient.

Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created humectant, stabilizer, and solvent.

This ingredient helps:

Dipropylene glycol is technically an alcohol, but it belongs to the glycol family (often considered part of the ‘good’ alcohols). This means it is hydrating and gentle on skin unlike drying solvent alcohols like denatured alcohol.

As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.

Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.

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.

Glycereth-26 is a synthetic ingredient and polyethylene glycol ether of Glycerin. Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin and helps keep your skin moisturized.

It is a humectant and helps add texture to products. It can make your product thicker.

As a humectant, it helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps your skin stay hydrated.

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.

It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.

The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.

The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.

Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.

One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).

This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.

On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.

Hydroxyethyl Urea comes from urea. It is a great moisturizer and often compared to glycerin.

The manufacturer claims hydroxyethyl urea is not sticky or tacky, so no modifier ingredients are needed to adjust how it feels on skin.

This ingredient is also known as neem leaf extract. It contains natural compounds like nimbidin, quercetin, and other polyphenols that give it antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Lab studies have shown neem leaf extract can inhibit acne-related bacteria and help calm skin. Animal studies on wound gels using 1-3% neem leaf extract found it sped up healing without causing irritation.

A wound-healing study testing gels with the extract at 1%, 2%, and 3% concentrations and found none of them irritated the skin.

Most commercial products also use it in a similar low range (typically under 5%).

Allergy-wise, there are some case reports on neem oil causing allergic contact dermatitis so people with plant/botanical sensitivities may want to patch test first.

Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil is a lightweight oil from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree. In cosmetics, it's an emollient that forms a light film to slow water loss and soften skin.

Its fatty acid composition is dominated by oleic acid (70-78%), with smaller amounts of behenic, palmitic, and stearic acids (this profile is actually pretty similar to olive oil).

Notably, this ingredient is oxidatively stable for an oil and resists going rancid as fast as other oils.

A small, in vivo study on 32 participants found a cream with this ingredient increased skin hydration with no reported skin irritation. It also found the tocopherol content gave it some antioxidant activity as well.

One thing to flag for fungal acne: Because this oil is so high in oleic acid, Malassezia can use it as a food source and this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

For everyone else, this ingredient is well-tolerated and nourishing with a good safety track record.

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.

You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.

Sodium DNA is an emerging anti-aging ingredient.

It is created by taking deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and purifying it with sodium hydroxide.

The DNA is extracted from several different animal sources, including: calf thymus, the gonadic tissue of a male sturgeon, or herring / salmon sperm.

You have probably seen this ingredient in anti-aging skincare. But what is it?

DNA is composed of nucleotides, or chemical building blocks. Nucleotides include adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). Talk about a flashback to biology! Nucleosides are formed from these nucleotides.

The science behind Sodium DNA is based on an ingredient called Polydeoxyribonucleotide or PDRN.

PDRN are DNA fragments mainly extracted from the sperm cells of trout or salmon. Meaning, PDRN can be derived from Sodium DNA.

PDRN consists of chains of nucleotides and nucleosides mentioned above. They can range anywhere from 80 - 2000 pairs.

Studies show PDRN has the following properties:

Most of the research on PDRN has been done using injectable forms. That’s important, because PDRN is a large molecule and doesn’t absorb well through the skin. So if you’re applying it topically, the effects are likely to be much milder.

Still, topical Sodium DNA is emerging as a trendy anti-aging ingredient. It’s generally well-tolerated and offers good biocompatibility with human skin, making it a low-risk addition to most routines.

Further studies are needed to truly confirm this ingredients anti-aging ability (Remember, retinol has decades of research!).

Sodium DNA may be sourced from fish, animal tissue, or plants. Since this isn’t always disclosed, we recommend asking the brand directly if the ingredient’s origin is important to you.

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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