Aveda Thickening Tonic Versus BrioGeo Destined for Density™ Peptide Hair Serum for Thicker, Fuller Hair

Aveda Thickening Tonic Versus BrioGeo Destined for Density™ Peptide Hair Serum for Thicker, Fuller Hair

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Hydrolyzed Corn Starch

Propanediol

Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl

Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine

Cetearyl Alcohol

Hydrogenated Lecithin

Dimethiconol

Coco-Glucoside

Polyquaternium-4

Polyquaternium-10

Dimethicone

Acacia Senegal Gum

Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate

Maltodextrin

Citric Acid

Parfum

Linalool

Citronellol

Limonene

Citral

Eugenol

Geraniol

Benzyl Benzoate

Farnesol

Benzyl Salicylate

Sodium Gluconate

Potassium Sorbate

Phenoxyethanol

Water, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Propanediol, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Dimethiconol, Coco-Glucoside, Polyquaternium-4, Polyquaternium-10, Dimethicone, Acacia Senegal Gum, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Parfum, Linalool, Citronellol, Limonene, Citral, Eugenol, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Benzyl Salicylate, Sodium Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol

Glycerin

Pentylene Glycol

Betaine

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Caffeine

Copper Tripeptide-34

Niacinamide

Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer

Coffea Arabica Seed Oil

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Biotin

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

Carbomer

Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract

Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Xanthan Gum

Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract

Tocopheryl Acetate

Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil

Lamium Album Extract

Plantago Psyllium Seed Extract

Panthenol

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate

Sodium Metabisulfite

Larix Europaea Wood Extract

Glycine

Tocopherol

Ubiquinone

Zinc Chloride

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Hydroxide

Benzyl Alcohol

Caramel

Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Caffeine, Copper Tripeptide-34, Niacinamide, Castor Oil/Ipdi Copolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Biotin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Carbomer, Lindera Strychnifolia Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Helianthus Annuus Hybrid Oil, Lamium Album Extract, Plantago Psyllium Seed Extract, Panthenol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Glycine, Tocopherol, Ubiquinone, Zinc Chloride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Caramel

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Acacia Senegal Gum has skin soothing, thickening, and formulation stabilizing properties. It comes from the Acacia tree that is native to sub-Saharan Africa.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is the filtered, stabilized liquid pressed from the inner gel of the aloe vera leaf.

In cosmetics, it shows up as either soothing active or a water-replacement base. It is roughly 98-99% water and the last 1-2% is an interesting mix of polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

The polysaccharides do most of the work: they bind water at the skin surface for a light, non-greasy hydration boost. And one of the polysaccharides, glycomannan, is linked to fibroblast stimulation + collagen synthesis. This is also why aloe has such a long track record in wound and burn healing.

This ingredient is also calming with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity, making it a great pick for sensitive, irritated, or post-sun skin.

Realistic expectations matter though; the solid evidence is mostly limited to hydration, soothing, and wound support. Deeper claims about anti-aging or sun protection are not well backed, and science reviews note it does not prevent radiation-induced skin injury.

Because it plays well with almost everything, it's commonly used as a base alongside other actives like niacinamide or vitamin C.

Typical usage concentrations range from 0.5% (where hydration benefits already show up) all the way to 90%+ (where it replaces water as the main base).

The safety for this ingredient is well-establish as well. Overall, this is a great supporting ingredient for those who want a boost in hydration.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

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.

Propanediol 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.

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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