Skin science article
Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum For Sensitive Skin Versus Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum For Sensitive Skin Versus Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum This calming serum is formulated around Avena Sativa Kernel Flour and Avena Sativa Kernel Oil to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier. This hy
Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum For Sensitive Skin Versus Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This calming serum is formulated around Avena Sativa Kernel Flour and Avena Sativa Kernel Oil to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier.
This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Butylene Glycol
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Ethylhexylglycerin
Phenoxyethanol
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Chlorphenesin
Dimethicone
Succinoglycan
Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Dimethiconol
Sodium Hydroxide
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Chlorphenesin, Dimethicone, Succinoglycan, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract
Propanediol
Pentylene Glycol
Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract
Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide
Acacia Seyal Gum Extract
Sr-Spider Polypeptide-1
Pantothenic Acid
Phospholipids
Spirulina Platensis Extract
Raphanus Sativus Root Extract
Caprylyl Glycol
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate
Potassium Sorbate
Propylene Glycol
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
1,2-Hexanediol
Citric Acid
Hydroxyacetophenone
Carrageenan
Xanthan Gum
Sodium Glycolate
Sodium Formate
Parfum
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Sr-Spider Polypeptide-1, Pantothenic Acid, Phospholipids, Sodium Hydroxide, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Raphanus Sativus Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Potassium Sorbate, Propylene Glycol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Formate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
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.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
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!